The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-04-25


lingering daylight.
A heavy policeman at 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 pear.
ing Of major-general and the accen.
of the city of Cork Hambleton went
on past the curving street-car tracks
lodged 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 motor-car or yelled lady, nor
sound of anything like woman 8
voice. Hambleton came out into inc
street again, looked about for anotner
probable avenue Of escape TOT 'he
car and was at the point OF baffiement
when the major.general pounded slow
, ly along his way.
: I'm there, my son. and no nice place
, either" pointing to smaller entrance
/. alongside the Imperial docks, almost
concealed by swinging signs. II was
l. plainly a forbidden way, and at nrst
r sight appeared too narrow Tor the
,. passage of any vehicle whatsoever
:. But examination showed that 1t was
e not too narrow; moreover. 1t opened
b on a level with the street.
70 "If you really want her, she's IN
IA there, though what'll be to pay II
at you 20 in there without a permit !
IN don't know. Id hate to have to ar
rest you"
ut might be the best thing for me
~ II you did, but I'm going IN. you
!" might wait here minute. Captain. II
you will"
81 will that; more especially as tina.
car was sumner for speed ana
already had my eye on her. I'd like
to see you fish her out Of that hole
al But Hambleton was out OF earsho
and out of sight. An empty passage
nv smelling of bilge-water and pent'ul
40 gases opened suddenly on to the iare
40 er dock. Damp flooring with wio
no cracks stretched off to the LETT; OF
- the right the solid planking terminal
40 ed suddenly in huge piles. agains
70 which the water, capped with sour
'na and weeds, splashed fitfully. The ri'
We er bank. lined with docks, SCENE
~ lulled into temporary quietness. Ferr!
~. boats steamed at their labors fartne
I'm and down the river, but the Gu
80, rents of travel left here and there
neaceful quarter such as this.
M Hambleton's gaze searched the doe
~ and the river in a rapid survey. III
wv. dock itself was dim and vast, with
S few workmen looking like ants IN Il
ana distance. 1t offered nothing OF G
po' couragement; but on the river. III
wards away, and getting farther aw
every minute, was a yachts tena'
on. ~ The figures of the two rowers we
~ mite distinct, their oars maxi
iDi0 rhvthmical flashes over the wat
- but It was impossible to say exac
vs. what freight, human or otherwise
eaI carried. It was evident that th'
no' were people aboard, possibly sever
Even as Hambleton strained his e!
tress 10 see' 'no s,,o II .
' pointed like gun toward la
Yacht living at ancher further out
MEM the stream. The vessel swayed p
vest: INC ss 49,. ,rron+ and slowly sw,
eh'h ,ts dim light from the masthead
They've got her-out in that DO
lalf said Hambleton to himself, feel
'ougn while the words were on his
and that he was drawing conclusions
arrow warranted by the evidence. Thus
wind stood. one foot on the slippery
tones siding Of the dock, watching while
rucks. little drama played itself out, so
dirty nc his present knowledge could CO.
few Judgment still hung in suspense
Ham his senses quickened themselves
from detect IL possible. what the quito
?. but no,oht he. He saw the tender
'orgot nroach the boat. lie alongside;
Inc one sailor after another descend
everai rome ladder, saw limp. inert
OF IT, lifted from the rowboat and ca
me up, as il it had been merchandis
along the deck of the yacht; saw two
lbleton follow the limp bundle over the
vale: and finally saw the boat ne
lown?" drawn up and placed In her d
J heart Hambleton's mind at last slid I
g that conclusion, like bolt into its SC
is next They're kidnapping her, witho
In the doubt" he said slowly For mo
IL and he was like one struck stupid. 5
ace no he turned to the dock, looking u
down its orderly but unpreposse
=" the clutter. Dim lights shone here
my kit there, and few hands were at
at the farther end. The dull. 81
ad. saw the unresponsiye spreoccupatio
and his whatever life was in sight, made
Seem as remote from him and
ounced. this tragedy as from the stars.
In fact. 1t was impersonai al
I a Ave o+a to such q degree that hi