Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-23

pardonable In one who combines tn
functions of perambulating almanac
guidebook. encyclopedia and conserv
er Of the peace.
Klrkwood said something beneat
bis breath, word In itself CON
Portable mouthful and wholesome ant
emphatic. He glanced again at tn
cab and groaned, 20 Lord. Just das
sentr' with which. thanking the bu
reau Of information he set of rapid
ly down Grey's Inn road to find tn
Alethea before she sailed. Proceeding
upon the working hypothesis that Mrs
Hallam was a polished liar In mos
respects, but had told the truth SO In
as concerned her statement to the ef
feet that the gladstone bag containe'
valuable property, whose ownership
remained moot question. though
Kirkwood was definitely committed t.
the belief that 1t was none Of Mrs
Hallam's or her sons. he reasoned
that the two adventures, with Doro
thy and their booty, would attempt t.
leave London by water route in tn
ship Alethea. whose name had fallei
from their lips at Bermondsey Olt
Stairs.
Kirkwood's initial task, then. woulC
be to find the needle In the haystack
The metaphor Is poor-more properly
to sort out from the hundreds Of yes
sells of all descriptions at anchor II
midstream. moored to the wharfs o.
longshore warehouses or In the gigan
tic docks that line the Thames. tha
one called Alethea. Of which he wa.
so deeply mired In ignorance that h'
could not say whether she were tramp
steamer. coastwise passenger boat
one of the liners that ply between TIL
bury and all the world, channel ferry
boat, private yacht (steam or sail,
schooner, four master. square rigger
bark or brigantine.
London had turned over once ol
twice and was pulling the bedclothes
over Its head and grumbling about get
ing up. but the city was still sound
asleep. when at length he paused for ;
minutes rest In front Of the Mansion
House and realized. with pang ot
despair, that he was completely tuck
cred out.
With sigh he surrendered to the
fesh's frailty. An early cabby, cruis
ing up from Cannon street station Oh
the of chance Of finding some one
astir in the city aside from the doves
and sparrows. suffered the surprise OF
his life when Kirkwood halted him
Jump In. SIR" he told Kirkwood
cheerfully as soon as he had assiniilat
ed the latter's demands. II knows
precisely wotcher wants. Leave 1t all
to me-"
The admonition was all but super
luous. Kirkwood was unable for the
time being to do aught else than re
sign his fate into unother's guidance
Once In the cab he slipped insensibly
into nap and slept sound!y on. as
reckless Of the cabs swift pace and
continuous bouncing as Of the sunlight
glaring full In his tired young face.
He may have slept twenty minutes
He awoke faint with drowslness. tin.
Cling from head to toe from fatigue
and In distress Of queer qualm In
the pit Of his stomach, to find the han.
som at rest and the driver on the step.
shaking his fare with kindly determi-
nation. "Oh, a right" he assented
surlIly and by sheer force Of will
made himself climb out to the side
walk, where, having rubbed his eyes,
enormously and yawncd dis
courteously in the face of the east end.
he was once more himself and Il hun
drcd times refreshed into the bargain.
he counted 3 shillings into
the cabby's palm. the fare named be-
ing one and siY.
'The shilling over and above the
Zip Is for finding me the waterman
and boat" he stipulated.
"Right-o! You'll mind the 'orse a
minute. sirT'
Kirkwood nodded. The man touched
his hat and disappeared hexplicably
Kirkwood. needlessly attaching him
self to the reins near the animals
head. pried his sense Of observation
open and became alive to the fact that
he stood in quarter of London rs
strange to him as had been Bermond
sey wall.
To this day he cannot put name
to 1t. He surmises that 1t was Wap-
ping. His cabby popped hurrledly
out of the entrance to tenement,
dull visaged, broad shouldered water
man ambling more slowly after.
"Nevvy Of mine, sir" announced the
cabby, land fust ryte waterman.
Knows the river like book. he do"
The nephew touched his forelock
sheepishly.
THANK you." said Kirkwood. and,
turning to the man, "Your boat" he
asked. with the brevity Of wearlness.
"Thls wye. sir"
At his guides heels Kirkwood thread
ed the crowd and then descended
to a floating stage to which heavy
rowboat lay moored. In the latter q
second waterman was seated, baWne
out bilge with rusty can.
ERE we are, SIR" said the cabman's
nephew. pausing at the head Of the
steps. "Now. where's 1t to be?"
The American explained tersely that
he had a message to deliver to a
friend who had shipped aboard vesse
known as the Alethea, scheduled to
sail at food tide. further than which
deponent averred naught.
The waterman scratched his head
"a ard job. sir. Not KNOWN wot kind
of boat she are mykes 1t 'arder." He
waited hopefully.
"Ten shillings," volunteered Kirk
wood promptly-"1O shillings II you
get me aboard her before she weighs
anchor, 10 II I 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 bach
to hail his mate. "'Arf quid, Bob, II
we puts this gent aboard a wesse
name O. Allytheer afore she styles al
turn o. tide"
In the boat the man with the bailine
can turned up an impassive counte
nance. "Coom down." He clinched the
bargain and set about shipping the