Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-12-30


set on. '| g"-s+ ~
And SO it came about that. what
with one thing and another, Hill re-
manned In Jersey until night fell, ate
his supper from q crowded lunch
wagon near the docks, and afterwaro
gave the wagon itself minute and
, critical examination. The result OF
this last was, that as soon as he had
done, he went to the nearest news
stand. Here he bought post card
upon which was depicted a pea7green
likeness Of the local soldiers monu-
ment, and wrote in the space for cor
respondencer"I had supper tonight
with Mr.. Lovetoy. His wagon Is
superb, and at the present rate of the
business he has, shall expect we'd
ding invitation inside a month" Then
he signed his own name, appended the
Jones street address, and posted It.
Then. much exhilarated by his "long
thought" Of Iris, and the piQuant coin
cidence that had befallen him. he de-
termined to turn the night to profit,
and set to work among the river-front
resorts. -f
-
At midnight the Jersey shipyards
are very still, and down toward where
the docks are fewer, and farther apart,
1t is quiet indeed, once darkness has
fallen. Here and there one hears the
baying Of humanity ESQ called) belch-
ing out from the swinging doorway Of
the resort OF poverty and brute
strength, where the enormous energies
engendered by outdoor work find vent
under the name of recreation. Against
the outer darkness loom masses yet
more dark, and sometimes q crimson
light, like a dull jewel, smokes at the
crest Of these. when the indefnable
bulk 10 a ship. ~ ~, y : XII
At wide intervals, 4 flaring Light IT,
lumines q throng of toilers, who, like
the distorted creatures Of q dream.
rush about in methodical disorder, &C
complishing the loading Of some vessel
that must sail at dawn. Whichever
lies before one, the darkness or the in
ferno of light and noise, it 10 won
server with its vast suggestive quality
and arouse the desire to linger and
watch. Il Gz.@-.r : FL Nj. /
Hill thought OF this when he came
out from one of the low saloons into
the ;tingling cold OF night, and saw the
strange panorama that melted away
on either hand. @ +
Presently they reached . small COW
cred dock where greenish light was e.
burning. in the glow Of which some
| score Of men were at work, loading
great cases into the hold Of small
third or fourth rate steamer. 6.
There seemed to be curtously little
disorder or excitement In connection
with this embarkment, a fact which
soon impressed itself upon Hills mind.
Nor did the men appear to be In any
particular hurry. Then question OBJ
truded itself. If they were not rushed,
why did they work SO late at night 1t
was rather odd. The cargo was odd,
too. From the size, shape and weight
OF the wooden cases of which, it prin-
cipally consisted, the shipment was
|
on earth could so many pianos be 60
ing to? With a little effort he remem-
bered the sign at the entrance to the
,dock-"The Venezuela Fruit Steam
ship company" All, that accounted
for it! OF course, 1t was only reason
able to suppose that Venezuela turned
out very few pianos, If any. How
quaint, though! He began to muse.
upon the melodious consignment, and,
therefore, to observe the cases more
closely. How odd that they should be
put aboard at night!
3$A man who had been directing the
work, his back toward Hill, now turned
about SO that the light shone full upon
his face, and at the sight of 1t Sam
gava an involuntary cry Of recognition,
which, however, was lost In the gen.
eral noise. 1t was Rowe! The men,
DRY OF their last meeting, and of Old
Nita, came to him in q fash, and his
hands clenched ominously. Here. per-
haps. was chance for retaliation!
But before he could act on the Inn
pulse, several things happened all at
once. y.:s f2 %< RI
"A piano case, which was being low
cred from q truck, was allowed to drop
in such q way that it split open. From
the aperture several objects fell out
upon the pier. They were rides! Field
rifles, new and shining! @s&,., ;.@@$s
With . snort of amazement Sam
sprang forward, and at that same In
slant he felt himself seized upon either
shoulder. Looking around, he saw that
he was captive between two huge long
ahoremen, who proceeded to propel
him toward the ship. Az they came
mn with Rowe, who was cursing
roundly, but had already managed to
xet the rides out of sight, one Of the
rufYians called out: Here's detect
i've. mister, disguised as dago. We
caught him spying just before the case
broke" ~ e ~, E1aRls =:
With an oath. Rowe whipped aroAnd.
and for q moment the two men stood
klaring at each other. 5t,s. -, e
"Take him aboard" said Rowe.
breathing hard. Captains room. I'll
be there directly" .
what the devil :" began Hill
furiously. But he was cut short by
IS q