Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-08-27

the dories. To this he set his Shout /
der. showing it steadily down the
beach until only the stern was dry
Kirkwood looked back for the last
time, up the road to Sheerness. Moth.
ing moved upon it. He was rid of
Mrs. Hallam. if face to face with
sterner problem. He had few pence
over 10 shillings in his pocket and had
promised to pay the man four times as
much. He would have agreed to ten
times the sum demanded, for the boat
he must and would have. But he had
neglected to conclude his bargain, to
come to an understanding as to the
method of payment and he felt more
than little dubious as to the recep.
ton the fisherman would give his
proposition. sound as he QNirkwoodl
knew it to be.
In the background the cabby loi.
tered. gnawed by Unsuitable curiosity.
The fisherman turned, calling over
his shoulder. "If ye'd catch yon YES
sci, GOMEZ"
With one final twinge of doubt-the
task of placating this surly dog was
anything but inviting-the American
strobe to the boat and climbed in, tax.
ing the stern seat. The fisherman
showed off
In time the dory lay alongside the
catboat, the fisherman with gnarled
hand grasping the latter's gunwale to
hold the two together. With some diff.
ficulty Kirkwood transshipped himself
landing asprawl in the cockpit amid q
tangle Of cordage slippery with scales
The skipper followed. with clumsy eX
pertness bringing the dory's painter
with him and hitching it to ringbolt
abaft the rudder head. Then, pausing
an instant to stare into the east with
somber eyes. he shipped the tiller and
bent to the halyards. AS the sail rat
tied up. Tapping wildly, Kirkwood
marked with relief, for it meant SO
much time saved. that it was already
close reefed.
thrashing overhead and the halyards
had been made fast to their cleats the
fisherman again stood erect, peerins
distrustfully at the distant wall OF
cloud
Then, in two breaths. Cant do it,"
he decded-"not at the price"
'Why?" Kirkwood stared despair
ingly after the brigantine. that was al.
ready drawn far ahead.
Danger" growled the fellow
wind"
AT Il loss completely, Kirkwood found
no words. He dropped his head, con.
sidering.
Not at the price" the sullen voice
iterated. and he looked up to find the
cunning gaze upon him.
How much, then?"
"I'ive pun I'll have. no less. for
risllin my life this day"
impossible. haven't got it."
In silence the man unshpped the till.
Ell and moved toward the cleats.
Hold on minute"
Kirkwood unbuttoned his coat and,
freeing the chain from his waistcoat
buttonholes. removed his watch AS
well abandon them altogether. He had
designed to leave them as security
for the 20 and had delayed stating the
terms only for fear lest they be re.
fused. Now, too late, as ever. he rec
ognized his error. But surely, he
thought. it should be apparent even to
that low intelligence that the time.
piece alone was worth more than the
boat itself.
"Will you take these?" he offered
Take and keep them. Only set me
aboard that ship!"
Deliberately the fisherman weighed
the watch and chain in his broad, hard
palm. eyes narrowing to mere Sits in
his bronzed mask.
How much?" he asked slowly.
Eighty pounds together. The chain
alone cost me twenty"
The shifty. covetous eyes ranged
from the treasure in his hand to the
threatening east. A puff of wind
caught the sail and sent the boom
nthwartships like mighty fail Both
men ducked instinctively to escape Il
Draining.
"How do l know?" objected the
skipper.
I'm telling you. If you've eyes you
can sec," retorted Kirkwood savagely.
seeing that he had erred In telling thu
truth. The amount he had named was
too great to be grasped at once by this
crude. cupidinous brain.
How do l know" the man repeat
ed. Nevertheless he dropped watch
and chain into his pocket. then, with "a
meaning grimace, extended again his
horny. greedy palm.
"What'-
Hand over tn two pun and We'll 60"
III see you hanged first.'
ashore We CO." He pronounced his
ultimatum, motioning Kirkwood to en-
ter the boat.
The American turned, looking for
the Alethea or for the vessel that he
believed bore that name. She was
nearing the lightship when he found
her. and as he looked squall blurred
the air between them, blotting the
brigantine out with smudge of rain.
The effect was as if she had vanished,
MS If she were forever snatched from
his grasp, and with Dorothy aboard
her-heaven alone knew in what need
Of him!
Mute and blind with despair and
wrath, he turned upon the man and
caught him by the collar, forcing him
out over the lip of the overhang. They
We're unevenly matched, Kirkwood far
the slighter, but strength came to him
in the crisis. physical strength and ad,