Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-08-05
CHAPTER Xxx.

NF Kirkwood had paused to moralize
upon the discovery. he would have
laid 1t all at the door of his lucky
= star and would have been wrong
We who have never stopped to petty
larceny know that the oars had been
placed there at the direction Of his
evil genius bent upon facilitating his
descent into the avernus of crime.
Unhitching the painter. he set one
oar against the gunwale of the boat
and with powerful thrust sent his
own Get us SO call it for convenience
stern first out upon the river, then sat
him composedly down. fitted the oars
to their locks and began to pull straight
across stream. trusting to the current
to carry him down to the Alethea. He
had already marked down that vessels
riding light and that not without a
glow Of gratitude to see it still aloft
and In proper juxtaposition to the river
bank. proof that 1t had not moved.
lie pulled good oar. reckoned his
distance prettily and. shipping the
blades at just the right moment,
brought the little boat In under the
brigantine's counter with scarce a jar.
An element Of surprise be held essen
tial to the success of his plan. what
ever that might turn out to be.
Standing up, he caught the brigan-
tines after rail with both hands. one
OF which held the painter of the pur-
Joined boat. and lifted his head above
the deck line. A short survey of the
deserted after deck gave him further
assurance. The anchor watch was not
In sight. He may have been keeping
well forward by Stryker's instructions,
or he may have crept Off for forty
winks. Whatever the reason for his
absence from the post Of duty, Kirk
wood was relieved not to have him to
deal with and, drawing himself gently
In over the rail. made the painter fast
and stepped noiselessly over toward
the lighted oblong of the companion
way. A murmur of voices from below
comforted him with the knowledge
that he had not miscalculated this
time. At last he stood within striking
distance Of his quarry.
The syllables Of his surname ringing
clearly In his ears and followed by
STRIKERS fleering laugh brought him
to a pause. He flushed holly in the
darkness. The captain was retailing
with relish some of his most success
full witticisms at Kirkwood's expense.
Mulready laughed with him. II lit
tie uncertainty. Calendars chuckle
was not audible. but he broke the
pause that followed.
II don't know" he said with doubt.
Ing emphasis. you say you landed
him without penny in his pocket?
l don't call that good plan at ALL OF
course he amt factor, but-well.
1t might We been as well to give him
his fare home. He might make trouble
for us somehow. | don't mind telling
you, cap'n. that you're an ass. Per-
sonally I'm kind of sorry for the boy.
He wasn't bad sort. as his kind runs.
and he was no fool. from what little |
saw of him. l wonder what he want
ed"
Possibly" Mulready chimed In
suavely, you can explain what you
wanted Of him in the first place. How
did you come to drag him into this |
business?"
"Oh. thatw Calendar laughed short
y. THAT was partly accident. partly
Inspiration. l happened to see his
name on the Pless register. He'd put
himself down as from Frisco. fig
lred 1t out that he would be next door
% broke and getting desperate. ready
to do anything to get home, and
,hought we might utilize him to snug