Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-05-08

GAlCI4AlC4 VIII Ak nNI81su /
brfIliance Of the ineandes-
cents. and both struggled against the
lingering daylight
A heavy policeman at the corner
had seen the car. He pointed west
into the cavernous darkness Of thu
wharvea.
IF she amt down at the Imperial
docks she's gone plump into the river,
for that's the way she went" he In
The policeman had the bear
ing of a major-gensral 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 en- e liner.
No motor-car or yelled 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 the point of baflement,
when the major-general pounded slow
ly along his way.
In there, my son, and no nice place
either!" pointing to a smaller entrance
alongside the Imperial docks, almost
concealed by swinging signs. 1t was
plainly a forbidden way, and at first
sight appeared too narrow for b
passage of any vehicle whatsoever
But examination showed that it was
not too narrow; moreover, 1t opened
on a level with the street.
"If you really want her, she's in
there, though whatrl 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
IL you did, but I'm going in. You
might wait here a minute, Captain, II
you will"
81 will that: more especially as that
car was a sumner for speed and 1
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 a rapid survey. The
dock itself was dim and vast, with q
few workmen looking like ants in the
distance. 1t offered nothing of en-
couragement; but on the river, nifty
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 1t was impossible to say exactly
, what freight, human or otherwise, II
!, carried. 1t was evident that there
were people aboard, possibly several
, Even as Hambleton strained his eye:
, to see. the outlines of the rowboa
q merged into the dimness. 1t wal
pointed like a gun toward a larg'
Yacht lying at ancher further out II
:. the stream. The vessel swayed pref
: tily to the current, and slowly swunI
its 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 ur
Y warranted by the evidence. Thus b
! stood, one foot on the slippery To-
. siding OF the dock, watching while tn
little drama played itself out, SO ia
y as his present knowledge could go. Hi
" Judgment still hung in suspense. bu
his senses quickened themselves t
detect, If possible, what the outcom
Il might be. He saw the tender al
' proach the boat, lie alongside; sa7
9 one sailor after another descend tn
y rope ladder, saw q limp, inert mas
T. lifted from the rowboat and carrie
. up, as If it had been merchandise, t
8 the deck Of the yacht; saw two me
II follow the limp bundle over the gui
vale; and finally saw the boat herse
:. drawn up and placed in her davit
Hambleton's mind at last slid to II
conclusion, like a bolt into its socke
u They're KIDNAPPING her, without
10 doubt" he said slowly. For a momer
"a he was like one struck stupid. Slow
10 he turned to the dock, looking up an
down its orderly bet unprepossesstr
lie clutter. Dim lights shone here at
1t there, and a few hands were at wor
at the farther end. The dull silenc
the ~unresponsive pr~eoccupation
is whatever life was in sight, made It a
seem as remote from him and fro
d. this tragedy as from the stars.
= In fact, 1t was impersonal and T
q mote to such a degree that Hambl
or toms practical mind halted yet an !
I'd slant, in doubt whether there we
not some plausible explanation. tt
% thought came back to him sudden
that the motor-car must be somewhe
I'd in the neighborhood IL his conclusi,
y. we're correct.
ar CTo BE coNTTNUED.>