Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-06
CHAPTER x1-Continued)


After luf1lng to pick him up, the
brigantine had been again pulled Off
on the port tack. The fury of the
gale seemed rather to have waNed
than waned, and the Alethea was
bending low under the relentless fury
of its blasts, driving hard, with lee
ward channels awash. Under her
port counter, a mile away, the Grim
son ight-ship wallowed in riot OF
breaking combers. Sheerness lay
abeam, five miles or more. Ahead the
northeast headland of the Isle of
Sheppey was bulking large and near.
The cat-boat had vanished. So
More important still, no one aboard
the hrigantine resembled in the re-
hottest degree either of the Calendars,
father or daughter, or even Mulready,
the black-avised.
II sye, re lookin' for some one you
know
"Yes-your passengers. 1 presume
they're below"
Passengers!
A hush fell upon the group, during
which Kirkwood sought STRIKERS eye
in pitiful pleading; and Stryker look
ed round him blankly.
Where's Miss. Calendar" the young
man demanded sharply. Il must see
her at once!"
The keen and deep-set eyes of the
skipper clouded as they returned to
Kirkwood's perturbed countenance
''Wot're you talking about?' he de
manded brusquely.
II must see Miss Calendar, or Cal
endar himself, or Mulready." Kirk
wood paused, and, getting no reply
grew FESTIVE under STRIKERS inscrut
able regard. That's why l came
aboard he amended, blind to the alb
surdity of the statement; Ito see-el
Calendar
We'll 8 . I'm damned"
STRIKER managed to infuse into hi:
tone a deal of suspicious contempt.
'tWhy?" insisted Kirkwood, nettlet
but still uncomprehending.
"D'you mean to tell me you cams
off from--wherever in ell you dit
come fron-intendin' to board thi
vessel and find a party nymed Cal
endar?"
Certainly did. Why"
'Well!' cried Mr.. Stryker, rubin!
his hands together with an air or
pressively obsequious, I'm sorry t
him-form you you've come to tn
wrong shop sir; we don't stock n
Calendars We're in the 'ardware line
we are You might try next door, O
/ dessay you'll find what you want a
the stytioner's round the corner"
A giggle from his audience stin
uIated him. IT. he continued acidl.
''Td a-guessed you was such a damn
fool, blimmy if / wouldn't We let 20
drowned
Staggered, kirkwood bore his sa
castle turbulence without resentmen
Calendar" he stammered, trying
explain, calendar said
II carn't 'elp wot Calendar sal,
Mebbe e did myke an engygemer
with you, an you've gone and went al
forgot the dyte. Mebbe it's lar:
years calendar you're thinkin' Q
You Johnny" Ito lout of boy
the group of seamen), run an fetc
this gentleman Whiraker's for Min
teen-six. Look sharp, now!"
But" With an enort to unde
stand,'' he said, as calmly as he coul
e.snat you deny knowing George
Calendar and his daughter Dorotl
and"
II don't ave to. Listen to IN
young man. For the time the fello
discarded his clumsy facetiousnes
'sI'm Wilyum Stryker, Capt'n Stryke
marster and 'arf-owner Of this wess'
and wot says ere is law. We dor
carry no passengers. Dye undo
stand me?"-aggressively. THE
amt no pusson nymed Calend
aboard the Allytheer, an never We
an, never will bel"
what name did you say?" Xii
wood inquired.
"This ship? The Allytheer; reg
tered from Liverpool; bound frc
London to Hantwerp, in cargo. Al
think else?"
KrkassaA EEiok his head. turning