Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-07-26
CHAPTER VIII. tcontinued.)

"Who?" Her glance was penetrat-
ing. "Oh. he's wytin' for you" She
nodded, lifting shrill voice Cargo,
o Cargo! 'Ere's that Yankee" With
a bare red elbow she indicated the
further end of the room. You'll find
i'm down there" she said, her look
not unkindly.
Amber thanked her quietly. and,
extricating himself from the press
around the bar, made his way in the
direction indicated A couple of bill
Hard tables with a small mob, of on
lockers hindered him, but by main
strength and diplomacy he wormed
his way past and reached the rear of
the room. There were fewer loafers
here and he had little hesitation about
selecting from an attendant circle of
sycophants the genius of the dive
Honest George himself, a fat and
burly rlffian who filed to overflow
ing the inadequate accommodation of
an armchair. Sitting thus enthroned
In his shirt-sleeves, his greasy and
unshaven red face irradiating a sort
of low good-humor that was belied by
the cold cunning of his little eyes, he
fulfilled admirably the requirements
of the role he played self-cast.
Ere. you!" he hailed Amber
brusquely. You're a ell of a job
'unter, amt you? Mister Abercrom-
bie's been wytin' for you this hour
gone Know the wy upstairs?"
His tone was boisterous enough to
fix upon Amber the attention of the
knot of loafers round the armchair.
Amber felt himself under the particu-
lar regard of dozen pair of eyes, felt
that his measure was taken and his
Identification complete. Dspleased,
he answered CURLY: mo"
This wy, then" Honest George
hoisted himself ponderously out of his
armchair and numbered heavily across
the room, shouldering the crowd
aside with a high-handed contempt
for the pack of them. Jerking open
small door in the side wall, he beck
oned Amber on with a backward nod
of his heavy head. BE bit lively,
carn't your he growled; and AMBER,
in despite of qualms of distrust, fol-
lowed the fellow into small and moi
some hallway lighted by single gas
Jet. On the one hand flight of rick
ETY. steps ran up into repellent OBJ
security; on the other low door stood
open to the night.
The crimp lowered his voice. Your
friends this wy" He waved his fat
red hand toward the door. Then
fools back there1l think you're tryin'
for berth with Abercrombie, the
ship-master / 'opes you'll not tyke
offense at the wy 'ad to rag you
back there, sir"
No" said Amber, and Honest
George led the way out into small,
tagged well between towering black
walls and left him at the threshold of
a second doorway. Two flights up,
the door at the top" he said; knock
twice and then twice" And without
waiting for an answer he lurched
heavily back TO his own establish
ment.
Amber watched his broad back fill
the dimly lighted doorway opposite
and disappear, of two minds whether
or not TO turn tail and run. SUSPECT
Gus enough in the beginning, the af-
fair had now an exceeding evil smell
-as repulsive figuratively as was the
actual efiuvium of the premises.
With a shrug, at length, he took his
courage in his hands-and his life,
too, for all he knew to the contrary
and moved on into the blackness,
cropping his way cautiously down a
short corridor, his fingers on either
side brushing walls Of rotten plaster.
He had absolutely nothing to guide
him beyond the crimp's terse instruc-
lions. Underfoot the flooring seemed
TO sag ominously: it creaked hideous-
ly. Abruptly be stumbled against an
obstruction, halted, and lighted a
match.
The Insignificant flame showed him
a flight of stairs, leading up to dark
ness. With a drumming heart he be-
gan to ascend, counting 81 steps ere
his feet failed to find another Then
cropping again, one hand encountered
d baIuster-rail; with this for guide he
turned and followed 1t until it began
to slant upwards This time he count
ed 16 sters before his eyes, rising