Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-30

instead OF the outset or journey.
1t was promptly made manifest tha
he had further cause for gratula
tlon. The cabby, recovering from hi
amazement, was plying an indefatiga
BILE whip and thereby eliciting degre
of speed from his superannuated mai
that his fare had by no means hopet
for, much less anticipated.
In period Of time surprisingly shor
Klrkwood saw. from feeting glimpse
Of the scenery to be obtained through
the reeling windows, that they wer'
threading the outskirts Of the town
spontaneously, whether by design o.
through actual inability to maintain 1t
the speed was moderated, and In til,
course Of few more minutes the cal
stopped definitely.
Kirkwood clambered painfully out
shook himself together and the bruise.
out of his bones and looked back.
Aside from a slowly settling cloud O.
dust, the road ran clear as far as ht
could see-to the point, In fact, where
the town closed in about It,
He had won, at all events insomucf
as to win meant eluding the persever
ing Mrs. Hallam. But to what end?
Abstractedly he rendered his lonely
sovereign to the driver and without
even looking at 1t crammed the heavy
weight Of change into his pocket, an
oversight which not only won him the
awestruck admiration Of the cabby
but entailed consequences Ut may bel
he little apprehended. 1t was with nm
absentminded nod that he acquiesced
In the mans announcement that he
might arrange about the boat for him.
Accordingly the cabby disappeared
and Kirkwood continued to stare about
him eagerly. hopefully.
He stood OH the brink of the Thames
estuary, there a possible FIVE miles
from shore TO shore. From his feet
almost a broad shingle beach sloped
gently to the water.
On one hand dilapidated picket
fence inclosed the dooryard Of a fisher.
mans cottage. or, better. hovel-if 1t
need be accurately described-at the
door Of which the cabby was knocking
Some little distance ofrshore fish
ing boat, cat rugged and not more than
Ntwenty feet over all. swung bobbing
ct her mooring, keen nose searching
into the wind, at sight Of which Kirk.
wood gave thanks, for his adventitiou'
guide had served him well, II that boat
were to be hired by any manner OF
persuasion.
But 1t was to the farther reaches OF
the estuary that he gave more prolong.
ed and most anxious heed, scanning
narrowly what shipping was there to
be seen. Far out liner was riding
the waves with serene contempt, max.
Ing for the rivers mouth and Tilbury
dock. But a single sailing vessel Of
any notable tonnage was in sight, and
when he saw her Kirkwood's heart be-
came buoyant with hope, and he began
to tremble with nervous eagerness, for
he believed her to be the Alethea.
There's no mistaking ship brigan-
tine rugged for any other style Of craft
that sails the seas.
Voices approaching brought him
back to shore. He turned, resuming
his mask Of sanity, the better to con-
fer with the owner Of the cottage and
boats. heavy. keen eyed fellow. un.
gracious and truculent Of habit and
chary Of his words. as he promptly
| demonstrated.
"Tll hire your boat" Kirkwood told
him, "to put me aboard that brigan
tine of to leeward. We ought to start
at once"
The fisherman shifted his quid OF
| tobacco from cheek to cheek. grunted
inarticulately and swung deliberately
on his heel, displaying a bull neck
above n pair Of heavy shoulders.
"Dirty weather." he croaked, facing
back from his survey Of the eastern
skies before the American found out
whether or not he should resent his
insolence.
"How muchT Kirkwood demanded
curtly, annoyed.
The man hesitated, scowling blackly
at the heeling vessel momentarily In
creasing her distance from the shore
Then, with a crafty smile. 1.-TWO pun.
he declared.
The American nodded. Every well.
he agreed simply. "Get out your
boat"
The fisherman turned away to sham
BILE noisily over the shingle. huge
booted heels crunching, toward one OF
the dories. To this he set his shoul
der. showing 1t steadily down the
beach until only the stern was dry.
Kirkwood looked back for the las,
time, up the road to Sheerness. Moth
ing moved upon 1t. He was rid OF
Mrs. Hallam. II face to face with 9
sterner problem. He had few pence
over 10 shillings In his pocket and had
promised to pay the man four times as
much. He would have agreed to ter
times the sum demanded, for the boa
he must and would have. But he hat
neglected to conclude his bargain. tt
come to an understanding as to th'
method Of payment. and he felt more
than n little dubious as to the recep
ton the fisherman would give hi:
proposition, sound as he (Kirkwood
knew It to be.
In the background the cabby loi
tered, gnawed by Unsuitable curiosity.
The fisherman turned, calling ove1
his shoulder. "If ye'd catch yon YES
sci, come"
With one final twinge Of doubt-th'
task Of placating this surly dog was
anything but inviting-the American
strobe to the boat and climbed In. tax
ing the stern seat. The fisherman
-shoved of.
In time the dory lay alongside th'
catboat, the fisherman with gnarlet
hand grasping the latter's gunwale t.
hold the two together. With some DIFF
fculty Kirkwood transshipped himself
landing asprawl in the cockpit amid
tangle of cordage slippery with scales
The skipper followed. with clumsy ex
pertness bringing the dory's paintc'
with him ard hitching It to ringbol
abaft the rudder head. Then. pausin:
an instant to stare into the east will
somber eyes, he shipped the tiller ant
bent to the halyards. AS the sail rat
tied up. tapping wildly, kirkwoo'
marked with relief, for 1t meant 81
much time sayed. that II was alread,