River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-01-09

A heavy policeman at the corSer
had seen the car. He pointed west
into the cavernous darkness of the
wharves.
IF 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 major-general and the accent
or 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 couple of truckmen dumping
assorted freight from an ocean liner.
No motor-car or yelled lady, nor
sound Of anything like 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 baff1ement,
when the major-general pounded slow
~ along his way.
In there, my son, and no nice place
either!" pointing to 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 it was
not too narrow; moreover, it opened
on level with the street.
III you really want her, she's in
there, though whatll be to pay if
you go in there without 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"
81 will that; more especially as that
car was a 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 terminals
ed suddenly in huge piles, against
which the water, capped with scum
and weeds, splashed fitfully. The riv.
er bank, lined with docks, seemed
lulled into temporary quietness. Ferry
boats steamed at their 1abors farther
up and down the river, but the cur.
rents of travel left here and there
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. 1t 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 or 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 dimness. 1t was
pointed like gun toward large
yacht lying at ancher further out in
the stream. The vessel swayed pref
tily to the current, and slowly swung
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 I'M
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 be. He saw the tender ap-
proach the boat, lie alongside; saw
one sailor after another descend the
rope ladder, saw a limp, inert 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.
Hambleton's mind at last slid to it's
conclusion, like bolt into It's socket.
They're kidnapping her, without a
doubt" he said slowly. For moment
he was like one struck stupid. Slowly
he turned to the dock, looking up and
down it's orderly but unprepossessing
clutter. Dim lights shone here and
there, and few hands were at work
at the farther end. The dull silence,
the unresponsive preoccupation of
whatever life was in sight, made it all
seem as remote from him and from
this tragedy as from the stars.
In fact, it was impersonal and re-
mote to such a degree that Handle
toms practical mind halted yet an in
slant, in doubt whether there were
not some plausible explanation. The
thought came back to him suddenly
that the motor-car must be somewhere
in the neighborhood if his conclusion
were correct.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)