Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-16
CHAPTER XIX.
The Sentimental Scamp.

The Sentimental Scamp
With word of thanks Crittend.n re-
turned the bulky tome OF the telegrap hic
code To the clerk of the cable company,
and moved off toward the door. wagging
his head incredulously as for at least.
the tenth time he recompared the code
message in his right hand with its de
ciphered transcript in his left.
Then. as he reached the threshold of
the office, his manner that of one ahan-
doning a thankless and unsolvable prob
lem. he thrust both papers into the breast
pocket of his white linen suit and plunged
heedlessy from the shadow of the room
by contrast, n spot of cool refuge-into
the binding glare and heat of the sun
smitten water front of Hamilton, Ber-
muda
Descending to the stone landing stage
for the small craft Of the harbor. he
beckoned in one of the lowering flock of
watermen, dropped into the stern seat OF
the mans cumbersome rowboat and
named his destination: ignoring entirely
the steamship moored at the quay, In
which he might have been expected to
show some slight interest. since il had
brought i'm that morning the extradition
papers, by virtue of which the conspira-
tors of the Cynthia were presently TO be
deported to New York.
Crittenden was altogether preoccupied
with fresh development in his fortunes,
information of which had been conveyed
TO him by the cable message in his
pocket. and had as little heed for the
towering stem and swelling freeboard of
the steamship on which he was presently
to leave Bermuda to play his part i'm the
trial. he had for the black. shining
face and knotted naked arms of the
negro waterman who sat facing him, his
huge. barrellike chest expanding and
contracting like bellows. with the strain
of his laboring at the long sweeps.
Once clear of the Pembroke shore. the
boat swung across the placid harbor to-
ward the cacti-studded rocks of Salt
Kettle; but as 1t drew nearer kept off to
the right and worked on down the Paget
shore toward the lands of the tribe OF
Observation-Disclosures sitting in profound
abstraction, his head bowed against the
intolerabIy brilliant and dazzling refiec-
ton of the westering sun. that blazed its
wake in liquid flame upon the peacock
waters.
the boat at length drew in to private
landing stage. Crittenden fumbled I'm his
pocket, found some coins. and with the
air of an absent-minded capitalist, drop
ped them all. copper and silver alike,
into the broad, pale. calloused palm of
the negro. Then, indiffe rent to his vol
uble thanks. and probably insensible to
the fact that he had overpaid the fellow
by several hundred per cent. he leaped
ashore, mounted winding, rocky path,
crossed the highway. and entered the
grounds of the small semi-private hotel,
where. with Cynthia and Nine. Savaran.
he was domiciled.
Now his habit became markedly less
penSive. and more alert and spirited
Though the hotel itself was situated on
the brow of the HILL not less than 2.0
feet above the harbor. and the ascent to
it was long and steep. he moved briskly,
looking about him with quick gances
that vainly explored the aisles and vistas
of the cedar-clad slopes-vainly. since
they encountered nothing resembling the
beloved object of their desire
About half way to the top, however.
he came suddenly round perfumed cop
pice upon solitary idler. half reclining
upon a rustic seat
"Maoklin." he cried. pausing. Hello.
What are you doing here-all by your
lonesome?'
The erstwhile steward of the Cynthia
sat up with some evident surprise, grin
ned broadly. rose and shook Crittenden's
hand and resumed his lounging posture.
'.Loafing,' he said sententious, playing
with cigarette. Il brought Rhode over;
he wanted to have a talk with the old
lady, and / got permission for him. on
the understanding that I'm responsible
for his return. Not that he has any
SHOW III tit WOIlu VI SSllliiS away
No" agreed Crittenden. pausng for
breath against the resumption of his
climb: that's true prisoner has
mighty slim chance OF escaping from
Bermuda. - What's new?''
Nothing you oughtn't to know by this
time. You knew that the eXtradition pa
pers came through this morning."
Yes
well. were off next Wednesday Pre-
sumo you knew that too
''T heard mirh HoW'S Clarptp'
''Oh. he's all right" said the detective.
with a grunt of disgust You can't
really hurt that type of thug He's as
full of he'll already as kid is of mis-
chief Good thing you re not going back
on the same boat; he'd lay to get you.
if he hung for it. E" Perez and Lobb
aren't so vindictive, though you're safe in
assuming that neither of EN- loves you to
Crittenden betrayed symptoms OF a de-
sire to continue the ascent. He consulted
his watch, announcing, with a show OF
surprise: Its getting late. Tell Rhode
I'll give him twenty minutes more.
don't want to go home in the dark
III tell him." Crittenden laughed.
'Good-nisht-''
so long I'll be over before we sail,
for a final confab. Give Miss Grayce
my respects, please Macklin called after
him. Night
Crittenden moved on. still with inquisi-
tive eyes prying eagerly into each nook
and corner of the grounds; receiving on
the way an impression that the hour WAS
really later than he had suspected, whose
thoughts had all been taken up with
other matters since receipt of his cryptic
cable message. about mid-afternoon.
Now there was slant of rudy burn
ing sunlight through the trees, a softened
tone i'm the long. eastward stretching
shadows that stenciled the velvet lawns,
a hint of evening GOODNESS in the air. -
Drawing near the topmost terrace of
the hillside he became aware of voices, |
a conversation largely, it's true. domi- |