Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-09

follage Of dWarfed frs.
| Down with the Scheldt's gray SHIN
mering food were drifting like com
panies of barges, sturdy and snug both
fore and aft, tough tanned sails burn
ing in the afternoon sunlight. A long
string of canal-boats, potted plants
towering saucily in their neatly cur
tanned windows, proprietors expansive
ly smoking on deck in the bosoms of
their very large families, was being
mothered upstream by two funny,
clucking tugs. Behind the brigantine
a travel-worn Atlantic line was scold-
ing itself hoarse about the right of
way Outward bound, empty cattle
boats, rough and rustv> we're swagger-
ing down to the sea, with the careless,
independent thumbs-in-armholes air OF
SO many navvies off the job.
And then lifting suddenly above the
level far-off skyline, there appeared a
very miracle of beauty; the delicate
tracery of the great CathedraTs spire
OF frozen lace, glowing like a thing of
spun gold, set against the sapphire
velvet of the horizon
| Antwerp was in sight.
A troublesome care stirring in his
mind, kirkWood looked round the
deck; but Stryker was very busy, en-
tirely too preoccupied with the hand
| ling of his ship to be interrupted with
impunity. Besides, there was plenty
of time
| More slowly now. the wind falling,
the brigantine crept up the river, her
crew alert with sheets and halyards as
the devious windings of the stream
| rendered 1T necessary to trim the can
vas at varying angles to catch the
wind
Slowly, too, in the shadow of that
Mechlin spire, the horizon grew rough
and elevated taking shape in the
separate profile of a thousand gables
and hundred towers and cross.
crowned steeples.
Once or twice, more and more an
noyed at the time of their association
seemed to grow more brief, Kirkwood
| approached the captain; but Stryker
continued to be exhaustively absorb
ed in the performance of his duties.
| Up past the dockyards, where
spidery masts stood in dense groves
about painted tunnels, and men.
swarmed over huge wharves like ants
over crust of bread; up and round
the final, great sweeping bend of the
river, the Alethea made her sober way,
ever with greater slowness; until at
length, in the rose glow of f1awless
evening, her windlass began to clanl
| like a mad thing and her anchor bit
the riverbed near the left bank, be-
tween old Forts Isabelle and Tete de
| Flandre, frowned upon from the right
| by the grim pile of the age-old> Steen
castle.
And again Kirkwood sought Stry-
Ser, his carking query ready on his
lips But the captain impatiently
waved him aside.
| Don't you bother me now, me lud
juke! Wyte until gets done with the
custom hoficer."
Kirkwood acceded, perforce; and
bided his time with what tolerance he
/ could muster.
A pluttering customs launch hustled
up to the Alethea's side, discharged a
[ussy inspector on the brigantine's
deck, and painted impauently until he,
the examination concluded without de-
lay, was again aboard
Stryker, Sinking benignly and mas.
saying his lips with the back of his
hand, followed the official on deck,
nodded to kirkwood an intimation
that he was prepared to accord him
an audience, and strolled forward to
the waist The American, mastering
his resentment, meekly followed; one
can not we'll afford to be naughty
when one is asking favors
Advancing to the rail, the captain
whistled in one Of the river-boats;
then, while the Waterman waited,
faced his passenger.
Now, yer r'yal ighness, wot can
do for you afore you goes ashore?'
Il think you must have forgotten"
said Kirkwood quietly Il hate TO
trouble you, but-theres that matter
of four pounds
Stryker's face was expressive only
of mystified vacuity. -Four quid? I
dunno as know just wot you means
"You agreed to advance me four
pounds on those things of mine. ~"
"Ow-w!" Illumination overspread
the holloWjowled countenance. Stry.
ker smiled cheerfully earn with
you!" he chuckled @ou will ave yer
llLlle JOKE, won you now! | declare
I never see a loony with such affecsh-
nit, plyful wyes!"
kirkwood's eyes narrowed. "Stry-
kerr" he said steadily, give me the
four pounds and let's have no more
nonsense; or else hand over my things
at once"
'Daffy' Stryker told vacancy, with
conviction. 'Lor' luv me if I sees ov,
he ever 'ad sense enough to escype.
Wy, yer majesty" and he bowed
ironic. 81 ave given you yer quid"
Gust about as much as I gave you
that pearl pin" retorted Kirkwood
hotly. What the devil do you
mean
"W'y yer ludship, four pounds jus
pyes yer passage; thought you IN
derstood."
my passage! But l can come
across by steamer for thirty shillings,
first-class-'
Jaw, but them steamers! Tricky
they is, and unsyfe. No, yer
gryce, the w Stryker Packet Line
|