The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-19

T
~ ng-room of the St. Louis Club it stifngy
\ hot, and for the twentieth time Hlldreh mopped
the persplration from his face
For the twentieth time, also, he glanced at
letter, lying open before him. The occasion OF his
perplexity lay in this open letter, which thus:
DEAR FRED: I'm writing a detective yarn which calls
for the St Louis levee As l haven't
been in the city, I'm decidedly shy local color.
Send me few points. like the good old chap you al
ways were, and shall be
Your eternally grateful
Hildreth's reply began blithely enough like this:
DEAR W1cKs1E: What in thunder do you think I
know about the 1evce? AS for its local color
But there he stuck In vain he prodded the ink
we'll till it danced. 1t only after much hopping
that he proceeded:
unprejudiced observer might call it pretty
black.
And there he stuck again. He still 7roiding,
hopping and nuttering when Danfortl looked in.
Oh, it's you, is it?" drawled the newcomer.
Thought smelled something frying.
Hldreh smiled the lack-uster smile OF the who
looks funny to others.
"If you to my reason, Danforh, he
begged " tell me something about the levee.'
The levee! What IN thunder
ave said that And that it's dirty. What next?
"Why-I don't know. But" frightening up, III
bet Tolman does"
"Whos Tolman?
GA friend OF mine from up North He's brought =
party down here house-boat and IN going down
with him to dine board he finishes
telephoning. Come out here and I'll introduce you
seeker after truth about the levee. He wei CHS two
hundred and it's most all heart so maybe he'll ask
you to go along
And it Alter feeble protests from Hill
dreth into which he vainy endeavored to put
backbone, Tolman led the way his touring which
was waiting outside
"Perhaps I'd better up" he said as they
about start: intended do the bold buccaneer
and surprise Danforth by carrying him off; but I
won't treat you so unceremoniousy, Mr.. Hildreth.
I've just teephoned the wharf-boat to have my
get up steam Well go up the river this evening and
be back here by nine ten in the morning II either
OF you want to send word to anybody, you tele-
phone from the Planters on the way down.
Danforth closed his eyes and leaned carefully back
Don't wake mel" he whispered. " It's the first
pleasant dream I've had this summer"
"And you?" laughed Tolman, turning to Hildreth.
cts too late to lose mel" was the firm reply.
GIVE had lifelong yearning to be carried off by
pirates"
So it was settled and the auto stemmed the tide
of homeward traffic, Hildreth idly wondered what sort
of experience was in store for him.
At the hotel, Danforth disappeared in the telephone
booth, from which he shortly emerged breathing male
diction.
It told you not to let wake up!" he groaned.
" Here I've got to go to Chicago tonight"
Afterward, when Hildreth tried to account for the
contretemps which he arrived, Danforths failure
to go with them that night doomed big the begin
ming of it all.
Halfway down, Tonlan pointed to two dazzngly
white boats, the houseboat in front, the steamboat
smuggling close behind it. Screen awnings, cool green
and white, dropped on the sunny shoreward side
and little breeze lazly worrying long penrant
Hildreh drew deep breath of pleasant anticipation.
This being carried off by pirates is all my fancy
painted it! he remarked as they ran up grooved
gang plank and nosed in between several other
the forecastle OF the steamboat
The staerooms the house boat are full,
said Tolman he led the way upstairs; but here's
room and bath where you make the best OF your
captivity. I'll send boy to what you need, and
I'll after you i'll time for dinner
Hldreth emitted the usual inarticulae mumbles as,
in hosptable Western fashion, he presented to
person after person. When he finally took the place
beside his host. he retained but two facts of the
medley of introductions. The small boy his hosts
little son Harold. That fact particularly in
teresting but the thought of the other he shot
satisfied glance toward the opposite end OF the table
1t was the place where one would naturally expect
to find the wife OF ones host: but Hildreth recalled
with satisfaction the words OF their introduction in
Tolmans hearty voice:
Dolly, here's a prisoner I captured at the club.
Mr. Hdreth. my cousin Miss Neville.
1t went and in his mind, "My cousin,
Miss Neville. My cousin, Miss Neville" Just then
her brown eyes flashed him smile and 11ildreth felt
little thrill explore every OF his being
If that afternoon. when he struggling vainly to
define the local color of the levee anybody had limited
that inside of two hours he would be going into
at glance from girls laughing eyes, he
would have scorned the prophecy.
OF course the idea OF love At hrs: sight had sweet