Evening star., 1915-03-21

easy. The thought flashed through my
mind why, here you are, all alone, after
ten o'clock at night, in a strange country,
going to see a man you never heard OF be-
fore, in company of an individual whose
name you haven't asked, and whose face you
have seen only dimly in the dark! You are
known to have several hundred dollars IN
your pocket, and nobody under Heaven but
yourself and your companion knows where
YOU arc, or in what kind of company" 1t
really seemed time for a diplomatic "hcdge.
"Wherc is Captain Naguffys housc!' |
inquired as a starter, after we had driven
for an overong time.
"Ncwark, New Jersey was the consoling
reply, but sobery made.
"Wcll-I don't feel equal to drive that
far said dryly. 81 supposed when ac-
ccptcd this invitation that your Captain
was living around the corner somewhere"
NO." said my companion. Hes abodrd
his boat-the Samuel ]. Taylor"
"His boat?" | cried. "Oh, come now, my
frend-if I'd known that-we, really, l
think we'd better turn back"
"Not now," said he. "Were almost there
"But why doesn't the Captain keep his
boat closer to civilization" queried. isn't
there room for him closer to town."
"Yes, there's plenty of room closer to
town." replied my strange acquaintance;
"but the Captain prefers to be closer to the sea
in case he needs to make a quick getaway.
He and the government aren't on the best
of terms Between you and me, he's doing
little stunt in ,flibnstering, and the folks
up at Washington are getting suspicious.
My heart sank into my boots and then
reboundcd to my throat. "You should have
told me all this before we started" said l.
"Wel, should have" said he; "but-
we'll, was afraid if l did you wouldn't come,
and the Captain told me not to come back
without you. What he says goes with me. J"
T COULD think of only one word. The
simple term kidnabb flashed across my
mind, and then the pleasing little phrase, so
itself into nv nerve. The beating of my
heart sounded like the mutfled tread of that
invisible steed ahead on the coquina road.
glanced out of the chaise to see what my
chances of escape might be in case | made a
break for liberty, and saw Oft to the right OF
me the lines of rotting pierhead, and the
towering masts of huge schooner that was
moorcd to its decaying plling. At the inner
end of the pier was whitewashed shed.
Everything in sight except the driver, the
chaise, and my future looked white,-a
phastlv, phostly white that made me think
of all the tales of horrd spooks | had ever
heard. Here the carriage came to sudden
halt, and tall black figure loomed up from
behind the shed.
"Did you get him3" came a deep bass voice
out of the night.
"You betcha!' was the reply from my
companion.
| descended from the carriage, and my
conductor led the way along the rotting
stringpiece of the pier, little more than a
foot wide, the chill waters of St. Simon S
Sound tapping about six feet below on each
side, and the dark figure from behind the
shed Immediately to the rear. | was COM
pctely a captive. A moment later we came
to narrow gangplank leading to the broad
hovstoned deck of the schooner, in the fore
part of which was an open hatchway, out OF
which there streamed steady shaft of yel-
low light.
"Down this way, please said my con-
ductor as we reached the hatchway.
TREMENDOUSLY l followed him down the
steps, and in a moment found myself-ir
the prettiest, daintiest, little, white and gold
parlor one could have hoped to find any
where outside of mansion designed for
Marie Antonettc or a Madame de Nam
tcnon Everywhere was gold and whte,-.
chairs, walls, table,-and set in the panels
of the walls (built inD were half-dozen eN