The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-01-10

lights altcrnated with the steady,
piercing brilliance OF the incandes'
cents. and both struggled against the
lingering daylight
a heavy policeman ut the corner
had seen the car He pointed west
into the cavernous darkness OF the
wharves.
IF she aint 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
OF the city OF Cork. Hambleton went
on past the curving street-car tracks.
lodged loaded dray emerging from
the deck. 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 q woman's
voice. Hambleton came out into tho
street again. looked aSJde iof aaoiher
probable avenue OF escape for the
car and was at the point OF baf'ement.
when the major-general pounded SLOW
ly along his way
In there. my son. and no nice place
either!" pointing to 4 smaller entrance
alongside the Imperial docks. almost
concealed by swinging signs II was
plainly forbidden way. and at first
sight appeared too narrow for the
passage OF any vehicle whatsoever.
! NIT Oh ~
not too narrow: moreover. II opened
on levoi with the street.
III you really want her. she's In
there. though whatll be TO pay II
you so In there without a permit. ]
don't know. Id hate TO have to ar.
| rest you"
''It might be the best thing for me
II you did, but I'm going in. You
might walt here a minute. Captain. II
you will"
II 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"
Rut 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.
or dock. Damp flooring with wide
cracks stretched OF 10 the left; on
the right the solid planking terminal
cd suddenly in huge piles. against
which the water. capped with scum
and weeds. splashsd fitfully. The riv
or 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 o
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
few workmen looking like ants In the
distance. II 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 we're
quite distinct. their oars making
rhythmical flashes over the water
but II was impossible 10 say exactly
what freight, human or otherwise. Il
carried. 1t was evident that there
were people aboard. possibly several
Even as Hambleton strained his eyes
10 see. the outlines OF the rowboat
merged into the dimness II 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
it's dim light from the masthead.
They've got her-out in that boat
said liambleton 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. II possible. what the outcome
might be. He saw the tender an
proach the boat. lie alongside: saw
one sailor after another descend the
rope ladder, saw limp. inert mass
lifted from the rowboat and carried
up. rs II II 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 bolt into its socket.
They're kidnapping her, without q
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 unprepossessing
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 Il nj,
seem as. remote from him and from
this tragedy as from the stars.
In fact, II was impersonai 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 hi,n suddenly