Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-02

gers there that they might make con-
nection with the lilo morning boat
for Flushing, the very side wheel
steamer doubtless which he had no.
ticed beating out in the teeth of the
gale just after the b%rigantine had
picked him up.
A third check had been placed
against the train for Amsterdam sched-
uled to leave Antwerp at 6:332 p. III.
Momentarily his heart misgave him
when he saw this In fear lest Calen-
dar and Dorothy should have gone on
from Antwerp the previous evening,
but then he rallied, discovering that
the boat train from Flushing did not
arrive at Antwerp till after 10 at night,
n there was no later train thence
for Amsterdam. Were the latter truly
their purposed destination they would
have stayed overnight and be leaving
that very evening on the 6:32. On the
other hand, why should they wait for
the latest train rather than proceed by
the first available in the morning?
Why but because Calendar and Null
ready were to wait for Stryker to join
them on the Alethea?
Very well, then. If the wind held
and Stryker knew his business, there
would be another passenger on that
train in addition to the Calendar party.
Making mental note of the fact that
the boat train for Flushing and Lon
daily ut S:21 p. m., Kirkwood restored
the guide to the locker lest inadver-
tently the captain should pick it up
and see what Kirkwood had seen.
An hour later he went on deck. The
skies had blown clear, and the brigan-
tine was we'll In land bound waters
and still footing a rafting pace. Ant
werp was in sight.
A troublesome care stirring in his
mind, Kirkwood looked round the
deck. but StrylSer was very busy, en-
tirely too preoccupied with the han
ding Of his ship to be interrupted With
impunity. Besides. there was plenty
of time.
Up past the dockyards, where spi-
derry masts stood in dense groves about
painted tunnels and men swarmed
oNS4 uuSC WudIlS IKE anus ONOI Il
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 q flawless evening
her windlass began to clank like a
mad thing and her anchor bit the river
bed near the left bank between old
FOrfS ICoha11o and Tofn do N1or1ro
frowned Upon from the right by the
grim pile of the age old steen castle.
K1rkwood sought Stryker, his cark-
ing query ready on his lips, but the
captain impatiently waved him aside.
Don't you bother me now, me lud
juke. Wyte until 1 gets done with
the custom hof1cer."
Stryker, smirking 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 au-
dience and ~strolled forward to the
waist. The American, mastering his
resentment. meekly followed. One
cannot we'll afford to be naughty when
n 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 l
do for you afore you goes ashore"
II hin you must have forgotten"
said kirkwood quietly. ~ hate to
trouble you. but-there's that matter of
e."
S%tryker's face was expressive only
of mystified vacuity. -Four quid? L
dunno as l know just wot you means"
You agreed to advance me "a on
those things of mine.'
"OW!' Illumination overspread the
hollow jowled countenance. Stryker
smiled cheerfully. earn with you!"
he chuckled. You will ave yer little
joke, Won't you, now? | declare 1
never see a loony with such affec-
sh'nit, pl'yful wyes!'
kirkwood's eyes narrowed. "Stry-
ker." he said steadily, give me the "a
and let's have no more nonsense or
else hand over my things at once.'
"Datfy," Stryker told vacancy, with
conviction. "Lor' luv me if 1 sees 'ow
he ever lad sense enough to escype.
Wy, yer majesty" and he bowed,
ironic, II ave given you yer quid."
Just about as much as | gave you
that pearl pin," retorted Kirkwood
hotly. "What do you mean
"W'y, yer ludship, "A JUS pyes yer
passage. I thought you understood"
my passage! But I can come across
by steamer for 30 shillings, first
class
Jaw, but them steamers! Tricky,
they is. an unsyfe. No, yer gryce,
the w. Stryker Packet line, limited,
London to Antwerp, charges "a per
passage an no reduction for return
fare"
Stunned by his effrontery. Kirkwocd
stared In silence.
ANY ~coupiynts," continued the cap
tain. looking over Kfkwood+s head.
must be lyde aApss the bca4d OF d.