Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-20

self to the reinS near the animaFS
head, pried his sense of observation
open and became alive to the fact that
he stood in quarter of London as
strange to him as had been Bermond-
sey wall.
To this day he cannot put name
to it. He surmises that it was Wap-
ping. His cabby popped hurrledly
out of the entrance to a tenement, a
dull visaged, broad shouldered water
man ambling more slowly after
"Nevvy of mine, sir" announced the
cabby, land a fust ryte waterman.
Knows the river like book. he do"
The nephew touched his forelock
sheepishly.
THANK you," said Kirllwood, and,
turning to the man, "Your boat?" he
asked, with the brevity of WEAKNESS.
This wye. SIR
At his guides heels Kirkwood thread
ed the crowd and then descended
to a floating stage to which a heavy
rowboat lay moored. In the latter a
second waterman was seated, bailing
out bilge with rusty can.
Ere we are, sir" said the claimants
nephew, pausing at the head of the
steps. Nov, where's 1t to be-"
The American explained tersely that
he had message to deliver to
friend who had shipped aboard vessel
known as the Alethea, scheduled to
sail at flood tide, further than which
dcponent averred naught.
The waterman scratched his head.
"a ard job. sir. Not KNOWN wot kind
Of boat she are mylSes it 'arder." He
waited hopefully.
Ten shillings," volunteered Kirk
wood promptly-"1O shillings if you
get me aboard her before she weighs
anchor, Is If l keep you out more
than an hour and still you put me
aboard. After that We'll make other
terms"
The man promptly turned his back
to hail his mate. "'Arf quid, Bob. If
we puts this gent aboard vessel
name O. Allytheer afore she styles at
turn O. tide"
In the boat the man with the bailing
can turned up an impressive counte-
nance. Coon down." He clinched the
] bargain and set about shipping the
4 sweeps.
Bows swinging downstream, the
boat shot out from the shore.
"How's the tide?" demanded Kirk
wood. his Impotence growing.
ION tn turn, SIR" he was told.
For long moment broadside to the
current. the boat responded to the
sturdy pulling of the port sweeps. An
other moment and it was in full
swing, the watermen bending Justify
to their task. Ship after ship was
passed. and in keen anxiety lest he
should overlook the right one Kirk
wood searched their bows and sterns
for names, which in more than one
case proved hardly legible.
The Aethea was not of their mum
Der.
In the course Of some ten minutes
the watermen drove the boat sharply
inshore. bringing her up alongside an
other floating stage, in the shadow OF
. another tenement, both so like those
from which they had embarked thai
Kirkwood would have been unable tt
distinguish one from another.
In the bows old Bob lifted up stem
torian voice, summoning one William.
In answer to the third ear rackins
hail man. clothed simply in dirt,
, shirt and disreputable trousers, showed
: himself in the doorway above. rubbing
the sleep out of red, bloated counte
nance with mighty and grimy fist.
: "Ello," he said surlily. "Wot's til
row."
100" interrogated old Bob, holdin'
the boat steady by grasping the stage
' twas tn party wot engyged yer lars
night, Bill?"
Party name O. Allytheer." growle'
= the drowsy one. "W'y?"
> Party 'ere's lookin' for i'm. Wher
will find this Allytheer?"
: BEST look sharp r yer won't fin
: 'im." retorted the one above. "'E wa
:, at anchor off Bow creek larst night"
Kirkwood's heart leaped in hope
" "What sort Of vessel was she?" h
- asked, half rising in his easerness.
i "Brigantine, SIR"
: And again the boat was flying dow
in midstream, the leaden water. she
{ with gold of the morning sun, partin
j. sulenly beneath its bows. Huggin
Il the marshy shore, they rounded tn
e Blackwell point, the boatmen pullin
$ hard. Young William looked to Kirl
Il wood. caught his eye and nodded.
"Uere:"
u Kirkwood rose, balancing himse
: against the leap and sway of the boa
y "Sumwheres long O. ERE"
II From right to left his eager glant
swept the rivers widening reach. We
r. sells were there in abundance but I
e brigantine no sailing vessel of any typ
e. The young mans lips checked CT
e. that was half sob of bitter disa
Y pontment He sat down suddenl
Is "She's gomez he cried In hOllo
q gasp.
1t The tired boatmen eased upon the
oars. and old Bob stood up in ii
s. bows. scanning the riverscape wi
n keen eyes shielded by level pail
lie The boat drifted listlessly with Il
IN current.
n Old Bob painted, "Dawn't-see- ma
p. thin'-o' 'er" He resumed his seat
IL 'There's no hope, suppose?"
"a The elder waterman shook his hea
III learnt sye. Might be round-ne
e. bend might be = passin' Purfie
IS, Point is-me an young Wilyum e
is -carnt do no moren we as. We
q. wore out"
IL YES" Kirkwood assented, discon.