Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-04-11

R4NASAhb 1AAAAAaAN1 VI IA AhNaAuoa
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 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 a major-general and the accent
OF the city OF Corr. HAmbleton went
on past the curvirg street-car tracks.
lodged a loaded dray emerging from
the dock. and threaded his way under
the shed. He passed piles Of trunks,
and q couple of truckmen dumping
assorted freight from an liner.
No motor-car 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 the point Of bafnement.
when the majorgenersl 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. It was
plainly a forbidden way. and at first
sight appeared too narrow for the
passage Of any vehicle whatsoever.
But examination showed that 1t was
not too narrow: moreover. 1t opened
on a level with the street.
III you really want her, she's In
there, though what1l be to pay II
you go in there without a permit, I
don't know. Id hate to have to ar.
rest you"
1T might be the best thing for me
II you did. but I'm going in. You
might wait here a minute. Captain. II
you will"
II will that; more especially as that
car was a sumner for speed and l
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 bilgewater and pent.up
gases opened suddenly on to the larg-
er dock, Damp flooring with wide
cracks stretched of 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 fltfully. The riv-
err 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 a
few workmen looking like ants In the
distance. 1t offered nothing OF en-
couragement; 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 1t was impossible to say exactly
what freight, human or otherwise, II
carried. 1t was evident that there
we're people aboard, possibly several.
Even as Hambleton strained his eyes
to see, the outlines Of the rowboat
merged into the dimness. It was
pointed like a gun toward a large
yacht lying at ancher further out In
the stream. The vessel swayed pref
tily 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 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. 30 far
as his present knowledge could 60. His
Judgment still hung In suspense, but
his senses quickened themselves to
detect, II possible. what the outcome
might be-! He saw the tender APP
proach the boat. lie alongside; saw
one sailor after another descend the
o D ladder, saw a limp. inert mass
lifted from the rowboat and carried
up, as II 1t 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 Its
conclusion, like a bolt into its socket.
They're KIDNAPPING her. without a
doubt" he said slowly. For a moment
he was like one struck stupid. Slowly
he turned to the dock, looking up and
down its orderly but unprepossessins
clutter. Dim lights shone here and
there, and a few hands we're 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
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