The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-04-13

light lasted in the hope of being able
to hail some passing craft, even this
slender hope failed as night descend
ed. AS a matter of fact the Stilettc
| lay on the Kentish side of the river
near the mouth of the Midway. On
the second morning a brilliant idea
occurred to him. At dinner the night
| before his captors had served a pint
| of poor claret, and the half-empty bot.
tie still stood on the table.
He would use 1t to send a message
to the outer world! Ripping a leaf
from his pocket memorandum book
he wrote with his fountain.pen:
81 am forcibly detained on a motor
boat somewhere in the lower Thames.
| Come quickly to the rescue.
DANNY DALLAS"
On the other side of the leaf he
penned these words:
Finder deliver this at once to Sir
George Kensett, Yeomanry club, Pail
Mall, London, and receive large re-.
ward. DANDY DALLAS"
The slip of paper carefully rolled,
he deftly inserted in the empty claret
bottle, rammed the cork in tightly,
tied a white handkerchief round the
neck and quietly dropper it out of the
portfolio. Then he sat down to pos.
sess his soul in patient waiting
Two days passed. On the late after.
| noon of the second day something
happened. There were sounds on
deck of tramping feet and the splash
of boat In the water alongside. With
his eyes glued to the portfolio Dallas
distinctly saw his jailers rowing
smartly shoreward That night the
motor boat was silent and deserted,
and the electric lights were not turned
on. The poor millionaire spent the
hours in hunger. cold and darkness.
hopeless and helpless. Apparently his
bottle-message had gone out to sea
unnoticed.
But not so. The man whom / found
waiting at the club proved to be
Thames waterman of the CATER Hex
am type, plying the river. He had
picked the bottle out of the water on
an idle impulse, and knocked off its
neck, thus finding the message with
in. Half fearing that it might be a
hoax. he made his way to the city by
the first train.
This will be about the best days
work you've ever put in!' exclaimed.
How soon can you put me on the
spot where you picked this up?"
Inside O three hours if we ketches
a fast train to Firth. | picks 1t up
jest off tn powder works there"
had him by the arm and into a cab
almost before he had done speaking.
Cannon street station on the
jump" cried to the Jehu, and in half
an hour we were on a Southeastern
express.
Where's your boat?" I inquired
when we alighted at the Firth station.
Right ere, governor" was the r-
ply. Wen be aboard in arr mo-"
Can you get a couple of stout fei
lows to help us?" was the next query
There's ten pounds apiece for theri
and so for you"
I'm your man." was the reply, "an'
| knows tn right parties" AS we
struck the shingle of the beach, Mr..
Joseph Cordell, as the werry-man de-
scribed himself, whistled twice with
his fingers between his teeth, and I'M
mediately there rose as though out OF
the water couple of amphibious fell
lows who, at Cordelfs command,
"atch old" slid the skiff into the wa
ter with me in her, leaping in them
selves as she floated.
Where to, sir?" inquired Cordell.
his oars suspended over the water.
There's a motor boat moored
somewhere near" answered; been
here for some days, guess. You men
seen anything of such craft?"
wy, that must be that ere gray
thing over yonder. Y can see 'er
frome ere. sir-right in line wi tn
church,"
Following the direction or the mans
outstretched arm, | could family dis.
Germ the outlines of a long, low craft,
the gray color of her sides almost
blended with the understanding
night
'That'll be her, men. Give way
smartlyi" Under three pairs of SOULS
the light rowboat fairly flew through
the water, and in ten minutes we were
bobbing against the Stiletto's side.
I'm going aboard!" | exclaimed. |
Two of you come with me, the other
man remain alongside" We gained
the dark and silent deck. Apparently
the craft was deserted. A little COM
panion-hood showed amidships, which
promptly descended.
"'Arf a mol" shouted Cordell. |
"'Ere's lantern" and he came clat
tering down the cabin steps at my |
heels.
Anybody below here?" / shouted.
feeble Help, Help!" and an unmis
taxable rattling of doorknob. to say |
nothing of vigorous application of
the toe of boot to the lower panels |
: "By heaven, he's there right |
enough" ! exclaimed, as l made in
the direction of the sounds. The |
key was in the lock, and quick turn
released the captive, who stumbled |
into the narrow passage-way, ex-
claiming:
so you did get my messages"
Less than five hours ago; / came
as quickly as possible"
Il don't doubt it," was the agitated |
response, but get me away from here,
/ beg of you. l am nearly dead with
anxiety and privation."
We caught Biddle in the Care de
Lyon at Paris just as he was about to