The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-09-03

linking arms with kifkwood. Be drew
him swiftly along Ibay heard her
shut the door instantly Calendar
stopped. "Look here did Dorothy
have IA snail parcel With herr
sshe had e gladstone bag"
tOh. the deFn. the deTnp Calendar
started on again. muttetiug Distracted
~. AZ they reached the corner be
diaengnged bis arm. We've a minute
end q halfto reach Charing Cross pier,
and I think It's the lest boat You set
the pace. win your But remember I'm
"a oIdlsh man and-and fat"
They began to ran. the one easily,
the other numbering after like an old
fashioned square Vlgeed ship paced BY
q liner.
The Thames appeared before them,
a river Of ink on whose FURNISHED sur
face lights swan IN long winding
slreaks and oily bloha 81 the floating
pier q county council steamboat strain.
Cd its haWsers, snoring hUsklly. Bells
were iingllng 10 her engine room as
the two gained the head OF the sloping
gangway.
Krkwood slapped a shilling down
on the ticket window ledge. Where
tor he cried back % Calendar.
"Cherry Gardens pier" rasped the
Winded man. He stumbled after Kirk
wood, grooming With exhaustion. Only
the tolerance Of the pier employees
gained them their end. The steamer
was held some seconds for them. Az
Calendar staggered 20 its deck the
gangway was jerked IN. the last haw-
ser cast on. The boat sheered wide
out on the river, then shot 10, arrow
like. TO the pier beneath Waterloo
bridge.
The deck was crowded, and add
tiOnai passengers embarked az every
stop. In the circumstances converse
ton, save on the most impersonal top
les, was impossible.
As the boat snorted beneath London
bridge Calendars impatience drove
him from hIs seat back to the gang.
way. 'Next stop" be told KirkwoOd
curtly and rested bis heavy bulk
against the paddle box, brOOding mo-
rosely, until, after an uninterrupted
run Of more than a mile, the steamer
swept IN, side wheels backing water
furiously against the ebbing tide, 10
Cherry Gardens landing.
Sweet name Tor q locality unsRvory
beyond credencel
KlrkWO0d shuddered. sticking close
to Calendars side az they landed
Life's naked brutalitles had thereto.
fore been largely out Of bis ken. He had
heard Of Sums. bad even ventuTed 20
mouth politely moral platitudes o.. the
subject OF OvercrOwding IN great cen
teFs OF population, but IN the darkest
flights Of imagination had never pic
tured to himself anything 20 unspeak.
ably foul and hopeless AZ this And
they were come h Pr seeking DOro-
thy Calendarl
After some ten minutes steady WaIh-
Ing Calendar turned aside with a NUT.
tered word and dived down q covered
dark and evil smelling paesageWay
that seemed to lead toward the river.
Mastering bis involuntary Qualms.
KiTkWOod followed.
Some ten or twelve PAGES from Us
entrance the passageway swerved az q
right angle. continuing three yards or
90 60 end IN a blank wall, WherefrOm
q hIckering. inadequate gas lamp tut
ted. At this point a stone platform
perhaps four feet square was discov-
cred, from the edge Of which q hlght
Of worn and slimy stone steps led
down 70 q permanent boat landing.
where another gaSlight dared gustiiY
despite the protection Of ita frame Of
begrlmed glas4E
Good LOrdF' exclaimed the yoang
man. what IN heavens name, Gal.
sndar"-
"BermOndSey Old Stairs. Come e."
They descended to the landing stags.
Beneath them the pool slept, q sheet OF
Dollshed ebony whispering % Itself,
Apping with small, steaIthy gurEles
angles Of masonry and ancient piles.
On the farther bank tall warehouses
reared square old time heads. their IN.
compromising, rugged profile relieved
aeRe and there BY tapering mzgtheads.
A few scattering. feeble lights we're
visible. Nothing moved save the river
md the wind.
The landing itself they found quite
deserted, something which the adyen.
ureF cOuprtshended with A nod which