The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-03-24

|
his location. Although he kept his
face in the portfolio as long as day.
light lasted in the hope of being able
| to hail some passing craft, even this
slender hope failed as night descend
ed. AS 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 shis captors had served a pint
of poor claret, and the half-empty bot.
! tie still stood on the table.
| He would use it to send a message
to the outer world! Ripping a leaf
| from his pocket memorandum book
he wrote with his fountain-pen:
Il am forcibly detained on motor
boat somewhere in the lower Thames.
Come quickly to the rescue.
DANDY 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 deity 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 a 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 a
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 it's
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
fast train to Firth. l picks it up
jest off tn" powder works there" l
had him by the arm and into cab
almost before he had done speaking.
Cannon street station on the
jump" l cried to the Jehu, and in half
an hour we were on a Southeastern
express.
where's your boat?" l inquired
when we alighted at the Firth station.
Right ere, governor" was the ~
ply. Well be aboard in arr mo-"
Can you get couple of stout fel.
lows to help us?' was the next query,
There's ten pounds apiece for Their.
and so for you"
I'm your man." was the reply, IAN
knows tn right parties" As we
struck the single 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 fel.
lows who, at Cordelrs command,
latch odd" 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 motor boat moored
somewhere near" l answered; been
here for some days, guess. You men
seen anything of such craft?"
IVY, 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 OF the mans
outstretched arm, l could family dis.
Germ the outlines of long, low craft,
the gray color of her sides almost
blended with the Understanding
night.
"That'll be her, men. Give way
smartly!" 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.
Pm going aboard!" exclaimed.
1.-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 amidshfps, which
! promptly descended.
"'Arf a MOI" shouted Cordell.
'Ere's a lantern" and he came clat.
tering down the cabin steps at my
heels.
Anybody below here?" l shouted.
There was an instant's silence, then a
feeble Help, Help" and an unmis.
taxable rafting 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 a quick turn
released the captive. who stumbled
into the narrow passage-way, ex. |
claiming:
$50 you did get my message?"
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,
I beg Of Won I am nearly doad with