Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-07-22


be had further cause for gratula-
ton. The cabby. recovering from his
amazement. was plying an indefatiga-
BILE whip and thereby eliciting a degree
Of speed from his superannuated nag
that his fare had by no means hoped
for, much less anticipated.
In period of time surprisingly short
Kirkwood saw. from fleeting glimpses
Of the sceEery to be obtained through
the Keeling windows. that they were
threading the outskirts of the town.
spontaneously. whether by design or
through actual inability to maintain it,
the speed was moderated. and in the
course of few more minutes the cab
stopped definitely.
kirkwood clambered painfully out,
shook himself together and the bruises
out Of his bones and looked back.
Aside from slowly settling cloul Of
dust. the road ran clear as far as he
could sce-to the point, in fact. Were
the town closed in about 1t.
He he'd won, at all events inso.nuch
as to win meant eluding the persaver-
ing Mrs Hallam. But to what end?
AhstrActedly he rendered his lonely
sovereign to the driver and without
even looking at it 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 lit may be-
he little apprehended. 1t was with an
nh Id hot l,n
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 on the brink of the Thames
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 fisher
mans cottage. or, better, hovel-if it
need be accurately described-at the
door Of which the ,abby was knocking.
Some little distance offshore a fish,
ing boat, cat rugged and not more than
twenty feet over all, swung bobbing
at her mooring. keen nose searching
into the wind, at sight Of which Kirk.
wood gave thanks. for his adventurous
guide had served him well, If that boat
were to be hired by any manner OF
persuasion.
But it 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 a liner was riding
Ing for the rivers mouth and Tflbury
dock But 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 trenble with nervous eagerness, fol
he believed her to be the Alethea
There's no installing ship brigan
tine rugged for any other style of Graf
that sails the seas.
Voices approaching brought hin
back to shore. He turned, rcsumin.
his mask of sanity, the better to con
fer with the owner Of the cottage ant
boats, heavy, keen eyed fellow, un
gracious and truculent of habit an,
| chary of his words. as he promptl
, demonstrated.
'I'll hire your boat" Kirkwood toll
, him. ito put me aboard that brigar
r tine off to leeward. We ought to star
at once"
The fisherman shifted his quid @
tobacco from cheek to cheek, grunte
! inarticulately and swung deliberatel
:. on his heel. displaying a bull nee
! above a pair of heavy shoulders.
DIRTY weather. he croaked, facin
a back from his survey Of the easter
! skies before the American found OF
$ whether or not he should resent hi
insolence.
e How muchg Kirkwood demande
CURLY. annoyed.
q The man hesitated, scowling black
! at the heeling vessel momentarily il
: creasing her distance from the shor
J. Then, with crafty smile. 1.-TWO pun
J. he declared.
The American nodded. VERY well
uc dsTeeu siupiy. 1cl oul Sot
boat"
n The fisherman turned away to shan
3 BILE noisily over the single. hus
II booted heels crunching, toward one
e. the dories. To this he set his shou
L der. showing it steadily down Il
e beach until only the stern was dry.
a. Kirkwood looked back for the la
t. time. up the road to Sheerness. Not
e ing moved upon 1t. He was rid
8, Mrs. Hallam. II face to face with
d sterner problem. He had a few pen
X over 10 shillings in his pocket and hi
e, promised to pay the man four times
j. much. He would have agreed to t
n times the sum demanded, for the DO
sr he must and would have. But he h,
re neglected to conclude his bargain,
N come to an understanding as to 4
a. method Of payment. and he felt mo
he than little dubious as to the rece
n ton the fisherman would give
s. proposition, sound as he (Kirkwoo