The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-11-29


A heavy policeman al the corner
had seen the car He pointed west
into the cavernous darkness Of the
wharves
III she amt down at the Imperial
docks she's gone plump into the river,
for that's the way she went" he In
sisted The policeman had the bear
Ing OF a majorgeneral and the accent
OF the city Of Cork Hambleton went
on past the curving street-car tracks,
lodged a loaded dray emerging from
the dock, and threaded his way under
the shed. He passed piles Of trunks,
and a couple OF truckmen dumping
assorted freight from an ocean liner.
No motorcar or veiled lady, nor
sound OF anything like a woman's
voice. Hambleton came out into the
street again, looked about for another
| probable avenue Of escape for the
car and was at tho point OF bamement,
when the maior-general pounded slow
ly along his way.
in there, my son, and no nice place
ether!" pointing to a smaller entrance
alongside the Imperial docks, almost
concealed by swinging signs 1t was
plainly forbidden way, and at first
sight appeared too narrow for the
passage OF any vehicle whatsoever
But examination showed that IL was
not too narrow; moreover, II opened
on a level with the street.
III you really Yant her, she's in
there, though what1l be to pay II
you go in there without a permit.
don't know. I'd hate to have to ar
rest you"
ut might be the best thing for me
If you did, but I'm going in. You
might wait here a minute. Captain, II
you will"
Il will that; more especially as that
car was sumner for speed and
already had my eye on her. I'd like
to see you fish her out Of that hole"
But Hambleton was out Of earshot
and out Of sight. An empty passage
smelling Of bilge-water and pent-up
gases opened suddenly on to the larg-
er dock. Damp flooring with wide
cracks stretched off to the left; on
the right the solid planking terminal
ed suddenly in huge piles, against
which the water capped with scum
and weeds, splashed ftfully. The riv-
er bank, lined with docks. seemed
lulled into temporary quietness. Ferry
boats steamed at their labors farther
up and down the river. but the cur
rents Of travel left here and there a
peaceful quarter such as this
Hambleton's gaze searched the dock
and the river in rapid survey. The
dock itself was dim and vast, with a
few workmen looking like ants in the
distance. It offered nothing Of en-
enlargement; but on the river. fifty
yards away, and getting farther away
every minute, was a yachts tender
The figures of the two rowers were
quite distinct, their oars making
rhythmical flashes over the water,
but it was impossible to say exactly
what freight, human O, otherwise, It
carried. 1t was evident that there
were people aboard, possibly several
Even as Hambleton strained his eyes
to see. the outlines OF the rowboat
merged into the dlmuess. It was
pointed like a gun toward q large
yacht lying at ancher further out in
the stream. The vesse! swayeG pret-
tlly to the current, and slowly swung
it's dim light from the masthead
They've got her-out in that boat"
said Hambleton to himself feeling,
while the words were on his lips,
that he was drawing conclusions un-
warranted by the evidence. Thus he
stood, one foot on the slippery log
siding of the dock, watching while the
little drama played itself out so far
as his present knowledge could go. His
Judgment still hung in suspense, but
his senses quickened themselves to
detect if possible, what the outcome
might Dr. ETs saw the tender ap-
proach the 3A"s ~ ds1ugside; saw
one sailor after a2o6+ar G;grsnd the 7.
rope ladder, saw a limp, IHeI't mass |
lifted from the rowboat and carried |
up, as if it had been merchandise, to
the deck of the yacht; saw two men
follow the limp bundle over the gun
vale; and finally saw the boat herself
drawn up and placed in her davits.
mind at last slid to its
like a bolt lnto it5 socket
They're kidnapping her, without
loubt,' he said slowly. For a moment
le was like one struck stupid Slowly
he turned to the dock, looking up and
lown rs orderly but unprepossessing /
,lutter. Dim lights shone here and
here, and a few hands were at work
It the farther end TIE dun silence,
he unresponsive preoccupatlon Of
whatever life was in sight, made It all
.eem as remote from him and from
his tragedy as from the stars
In fact, it was impersonal and re
note to such a degree that Handle
on's practical mind halted yet an in
tant, in doubt whether there were
ot some plausible explanation The
hought came back to him suddenly
hat the motor-car must be somewhere
n the neighborhood If his conclusion
we're correct
CTO BE CONTINUEDD