The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-02
HAG(xxv-Continued

Caps. l may be an hour-possibly
two" said Sir Gideon. Now" he
added, turning to me with little
catchy laugh, I'VE will go and
search for this wonderful vessel"
We traversed several of the
quays, my companion scrutinizing
the bows of each vessel as we
passed, and then, with an impatient
gesture, he stopped and spoke to
one of the dock officials.
Can you tell me-" he said,
where l shall find steamship
called the Nightshade?"
Next turning to the left-second
berth in No.~2 basin," the man re-
piled. Sir Gideon mumbled his
thanks and was hurrying on, but
the official called after him the gra-
tuitous information: Her skipper
has applied for his papers. She
clears this evening, unexpected,
I've heard"
Sir Gideon did not appear to ap-
preciate this communicativenes
for he growled something about
''meddlesome fellow" and directed
my attention into new channel by
requesting me to look out for the
name of the vessel.
My younger eyes were the first
to discover the name of the ship
we were looking for, and 1t was
hard to reconcile her appearance
with Sir Gideon's description of her
as yacht. Her low, black hull,
with here and there patches Of
rusty plates, her dingy funnel and
untidy deck, gave her more the
semblance of trading coaster or
of small tramp steamer. In point
ing her out to Sir Gideon l nearly
mentioned the discrepancy, but
checked myself. What did, 1t mat
ter to me how she was described,
so long as the proofs of Arthurs
innocence were to be obtained on
her?
1--WE will 60 on board at, once"
said Sir Gideon curtly, and, suiting
the action to the word. he crossed
the plank connecting the dock with
the gangway. Following in his
wake, had just set foot on the
deck when short, strongly built
man. wearing a cap with tar
nished band, but no other sign of
his calling, came out of the chart
room under the bridge. His face
was the most terrible have ever
looked upon--a whole history of
drink and ungoverned passions.
what the b are you la-di-das
doing aboard my ship" he yelled.
Mistaken me for the p. & O mail
boat, reckon. Well, be jolly quick
In clearing off the Nightshade. We
don't want any blooming toffs
here" <aE<
My comparkT drew himself with
a great show of dignity. Il am Sir
Gideon Marske," he said.
'"The bloke that taxes us? Come
to think of 1t, I've seen your ugly
mug in the comics, or somewhere"
retorted the captain of the Night
shade. IF | had you In the open
sea I'd ropes end you, and, by
G., I'll do 1t in dock If you don't
skip from my little hooker"
Il am here at the instance OF a
Mr.. Danvers Crane, whom think
you know" said Sir Gideon, pre-
serving his temper so completely
that somehow l gained the impress
sion that a false note rang in these
exchanges. 1t was like the pre-
mature playing of badly rehearsed
comedy.
The man in the amphibious gar
ments placed great, fishy fore
finger to his sensual lips and af-
fected to consider. "Ah," he ejac-
ulated. circumstances alter cases.
l remember Mr.. Danvers Crane
right as Moses. A nice chap, free
with the spondulics, he was. Why
might Mr.. Danvers Crane have sent
you to me? There amt no mistake,
Is there? I'm Captain Belcher. |
am-skipper of this craft
Then you are the person we
want" said Sir Gideon, making a
half turn to me as though appealing
for courtesy by including lady In
the business. "The matter is very
urgent and very private, and you
will be an-er-gainer by rendering
us every assistance in your power.
Is there--have you no place where
we can converse"
ION the strict q. t.? or course
there is. As there seems to be
profit in 1t, you'd better step down
into the cuddy. replied Boucher
roughly, but still with that curious
perfunctoriness of tone suggesting
the playing of part allotted at
short notice and imperfectly
learned. ought to have. been
warned by it, and should have
been, perhaps, II II had been any
ones else affair. AS It was was
blind and deaf to everything but
the immediate prospect of procur-
inc from this brutal riffiau tho do