Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-12

living open before him. The occasion OF
his perplexity lay in this open ieie.,
which ran thus:
Dear Fred-I'm writing a detective
yarn which calls for scene on the 81.
Louis levee. AS l haven't even peen III
tie city, I'm decidedly shy on local coioF.
Send me a few points, like the good old
chap YOU always were, and l shall De
Your eternally grateful
"WICKS."
Hildreth's reply began bithely enough.
like this:
Dear Wicksie-What in thunder do you
think l know about the levee? AS TOT rs
local color
Rut there he stuck. In vain he prodded
the inkwell till it danced. 1t was only
after much hopping that he proceeded:
an unprejudiced observer might call
it pretty black"
And there he stuck again. He was
still prodding, hopping ana mu'ter'hs
when Danforth looked in
.Oh, it's you, is it, draw.ed the new
conner. Thought l smeffed something
frying"
Hildreth smiled the lack-luster smile or
the man who looks funny to others.
IF you want to save my reason, Dan
FORTH" he begged, tell me something
about the levee"
THE levee, What in thunder
i've said that. And that it's dirty.
What next?'
..Why-I don't know. But" Frightening
up TN bet Tolman does"
Who's Tolman?'
"A friend of mine from up north He's
brought a party down here on house
boat and I'm going down with him to
dine on board as soon as he finishes tele-
phoning Come out here and I'll intro
duce you as a seeker after truth abo t
the Ievee. He weighs two hundred and
it's most all heart, so maybe he'll ask
you to go along
And it was even SO. After feeble pro-
tests from Hildreth, into which he vainiy
endeavored to put some backbone, Toll
man led the way to his touring car which
was waiting outside.
Perhaps I'd better own up" he said
as they were about to start; Il intended
t. do the bold buccaneer act and surprise
Danforth by carrying him off; but won
treat you so unceremoniousy, Mr.. Hill
dreth I've just telephoned the wharf
boat to have my crew get Up steam
Wen 60 up the river this evening and be
back here by 0 or 10 in the morning II
either of you want to send word to any
body, you can telephone from the Plan
ters' on the way down."
Danforth closed his eyes and leaned
carefully back.
Don't wake me-" he ..hispered. IT'S
the first pleasant dream I've had this
summer
And you?" laughed Tolman. turning to
Hildreth.
ITS too late to lose me-" was the firm
reply I've had a lifelong yearning to
be carried off by pirates"
So it was settled; and as the auto
stemmed the tide of homeward traffic
Eildreth idly wondered what sort Of an
experien was in store for him.
At the hotel, Danforth disappeared IN
the telephone BOOTH from which he short
~ emerged. breathing malediction.
Il told you not to let me wake up"' he
groaned Here I've got to go to Chicago
tonight,
Afterward when Hildreth tried to ac-
count Sor the contretemps at which he ar
rived, banforth's failure to go with them
that night doomed big as the beginning
OF it all.
Halfway down, Tolman pointed to two
dazzingly white boats, the houseboat in
front, the steamboat smuggling close be-
hind it. Screen awnings, cool green and
white, were dropped on the sunny shore
ward side and little breeze was laZily
worrying a long pennant. Hildreth drew
a deep breath of pleasant anticipation.
This being carried off by pirates is all
my fancy painted it.' he remarked rs
they ran up a grooved gang plank and
nosed in between several other autos on
the forecastle of the steamboat.
THE staterooms over on the houseboat
are full" said Tolman, as he led the way
upstairs; but here's room and bath
where you can make the best of your cap
tivity. I'll send boy to see what you
need and I'll come after you in time for
dinner"
= =
Hildreth emitted the usual inarticulate
mumbes as, in hospitable western fash
ion. he was presented to person after per-
son. When he finally took the place be-
side his host, he retained but two facts
out of the medley of introductions. The
small boy was his hosts little son Harold
mat TACT Was not particularly INTEREST
ing. blu. at the thought of the other he
shot a satisfied glance toward the oppo-
site end Of the table.
1t was the place where one would nat
urally expect to find the wife Of ones
host: but Hildreth recalled with salts
faction the words Of their introduction IN
Tolman's hearty voice:
Dolly, here's a prisoner / captured at
the club. Mr.. Hildreth. my cousin, Miss
Neville"
It went over and over in his mind my
cousin, Miss Neville. My cousin, Miss
Neville" Just then her brown eyes
flashed him a smile and Hildreth felt a
little thrill explore every corner OF his
being.
If that afternoon, when he was strug-
Cling vainly to define the local color Ct
the levee. anybody had limited that inside
of two hours he woulo be going into a
tremor at a glance from girls laughing
81 q hn hn-