Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-08-12

errand!" Thus Captain Marriott con-
clud,sd his simple speculations, and
then, leaning his head against the
padded cushion, he also fell fast O.
sleep.
In five minutes both the young men
We're breathing Quietly, and there was
no doubt of their slumbers.
The elderly German gentleman in
the opposite corner suddenly awoke.
He did not wake with those :prelinl.
mary breathings and movements
which are natural In the case of ordi-
nary sleepers. Breathing deeply and
regularly in his slumbers one second,
the next he was sitting up quietly in
his place and peering eagerly through
his spectacles at the two young men.
{ 1t was warm night, and neither
OF them were wearing their overcoats,
WHICH were lying on the seat beside
them.
From the. side pocket of Basirs
oyercoat round silver disc projected.
The shape of the travelling flask was
outlined in the bullying of the pocket.
Very slowly and quietly the Ger
man gentleman edged along the seat
with a soft, noiseless movement, bent
towards the overcoat, and withdrew
the flask. His movements were so
rapid that they seemed almost like a
feat of legerdemain. There was, in
deed, an irresistible suggestion that
the worthy gentleman was perform
ing coniuring trick.
Without the slightest noise, and in
less time than it takes to tell, the
silver top of the flask was unscrewed,
the stranger had withdrawn a tiny
glass tube from his pocket, shaken
out white tabloid, and dropped it
into the flask. Then, with another
rapid movement, his body swung for
wards and then back into it's seat,
while the flask remained exactly
where it had been at first, and no
one would have suspected that it had
been tempered with.
Then the stranger looked at Michael
Grants overcoat. There was no sign
of flask there. His brow knit up in
thought, and he began to edge his way
towards the sleeping athlete. At that
moment there was long grinding of
the brakes and the train drew I'D at
Dover Harbour.
The young men were hardly awake
They had miscalculated the time Of
their arrival, and the stranger had
gathered up the small handbag which
seemed to be his only luggage and
disappeared into the night before they
were fully cognizant of their surround
ings.
They put on their coats and de-
scended, notwithstanding to ar
rangement-to make no effort to con-
duct the Duchess and Daisy on board.
There was moon, half hid by little
fluffy drifts of sulphur and amber-col-
CURED cloud, and the fresh sea-wind
was moaning little. They heard the
lap, lap of the water against the
granite piers.
Basil threw up his head and shifted
in the ozone
ooh, OH" he said; "it is good after
London. 1t is good, after all, to be
out in the fresh air again"
Williamson came to them. Every
thing is all right, sir" he said, in a
low tone. to Michael 81 have just
seen the Duchess and the lady that
is with her, together with their maid,
going UP the gangway. They will find
their cabin at once, sir. 1t is reserved
for them. It is the new turbine boat,
and very comfortable
"All right, williamson" Grant an
swered; Il shall not want you again
till we arrive at Ostend''
The man bowed and went away.
They walked up the gangway into
the boat which was already heaving
and moving little, as if impatient to
be gone out into the night
The lights of Dover glowed astern.
Above, perched on its great chalk
cliff, was the mass of the castle. The
moon shone full upon the Great Con-
stables tower, and it seemed like an
enchanted castle in a fairy book.
Ito be continued.)
4