The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-11

had been gained. Then tho farther
shore was reached. and tho painter
scrambled up the steep roadway to the
top of the cliffs.
Now that have done my duty"
said he to Mr.. Jones, II shall loaf:
must loaf. I must think Of her uninter-
ruptedly for a while. You know whom
/ mean, Mr.. Jones: I'll leave her un-
named. as should be the case between
gentlemen. but you will understand"
Mr.. Jones grunted in reply. and they
set OF.
And 30 it came about that. what
with one thing and another, Hill re-
NAMED in Jersey until night fell. ate
his supper from crowded lunch
wagon near the docks, and afterward
gave the wagon itself a 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 a post card
upon which was depicted a pea-green
likeness Of the local soldiers monu-
ment, and wrote In the space for cor
respondence-"I had supper tonight
with Mr.. LoveJoy. 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 1t.
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.
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
some low-ceilinged, evil-lighted den,
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 a crimson
light, like a dull jewel, smokes at the
crest of these, when the indefinable
bulk is a ship.
At wide intervals, a flaring light IL
lumines a throng of toilers. who, like
the distorted creatures Of a 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, 1t Is a won
derful picture; one to arrest the OBJ
server with its vast suggestive quality
and arouse the desire to linger and
watch.
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 a small COW
cred dock where greenish light was
burning, In the glow Of which some
score of men were at work, loading
great cases into the hold of a small
third or fourth rate steamer.
There seemed to be curiously little
disorder or excitement in connection
with this embarkment, fact which
soon impressed itself upon Hills mind.
Nor did the men appear to be in any
particular hurry. Then question OBJ
truded itself. II 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 1t prin-
cipally consisted, the shipment was
evidently composed Of pianos. Where
on earth could 80 many pianos be 60
ing to? With 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, IL 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!
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
gave an involuntary cry of recognition,
which, however, was lost In the gen.
eral noise. 1t was Rowe! The mem
DRY of their last meeting. and of Old
Nita, came to him in a fash. and his
hands clenched ominously. Here, per
haps, was chance for retaliation!
But before he could act on the i'm
pulse, several things happened all al
once.
A piano case, which was being low.
cred from truck. was allowed to drop
In such a way that 1t split open. From
the aperture several objects fell out