Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-01

with Gafford's mood. Despite his
struggle at CONTROL his brain was
still slightly foggy.
His return to conscious life had
been too sudden. Now and then a
sense Of giddiness seized him so that
the moon seemed swinging drunk
enly in the sky. At such times he
clung grimly to the swaying rick
shaw and fought back to physical
control. He recalled Kate's words:
"If you shouldn't be in time"
A huge fear that he would be too
late obsessed him. Horror at what
his hardness would mean to the girl
at the Nippon followed on the
thought. He cried out to the man
between the shafts, urging to
greater speed.
After a long time, as it seemed to
mis- impatience, they drew up at the
hotel. Gafford climbed out and made
his way into the Nippon. At the
desk he made known his desire to
speak with Miss McRae for mo-
ment, and the blow fell:
"Miss McRae left the hotel some
fifteen minutes ago" said the clerk.
The shock sobered Gaffored like a
needle douche. He Strengthened and
turned from the desk without a
word. The step which took him out
side was completely firm. He sprang
into the rickshaw rather than
climbed, and cried the boy to the
waterfront.
They set off down the hill Mt
swinging run. The rickshaw bounced
and lcaped, but Gafford sat coldly
erect upon the seat, as though
staff had been fastened to his back.
Hot flashes of self-anger tore
through his veins. Self-loathing
lashed him to fury. But for the
sotted weakness which had made it
necessary for him to be shut in
voluntary prison. he would have
been ready when the summons came.
But for that the woman who had
fired him with patriotic purpose
would be safe in her room rathey
than the captive of treacherous plot
ters. He clenched his hands and
swore that he would not be too late
With final rush the painting rick
shaw-boy dashed upon the quay.
Gafford sprang down, tossed him
coin, and looked around. There was
nothing to see. The place seemed
deserted. Half running, he darted
along the pier, scanning the oily
surface of the waters for any sign
of a launch or ships boat moored
to the steps.
AS he ran he whimpered like a
hound suddenly bafied by q trail.
There was nothing to be seen. He
paused in his efrch and tried to
think. AS a result he set off run
ming toward the beach beyond the
quay. Here it was that the sampans
could be had for hire 1t had flashed
upon him that here perhaps he
might pick up the trail.
Beside a smoldering fire two boat
men sat under their wide straw hats.
Their bronze skins glistened IN the
faint glow Of the embers. Their
dark eyes turned toward the a.-
preaching figure in white.
Gafford burst into : rapid fire of
Interrogation couched in Japanese,
all of which amounted to the simple
query as to whether they had seen a
man and girl leave the quay in a
boat
mo one has left the quay, honor
able stranger" whined the nearest
boatman. mo ships, boats, OF
launches have left within an hour.
Gafford knew his native boatmen
His hand went into his pocket.
1T is worth considerable to me to
learn truly" he suggested Il have
been told that they left here by
boat"
Yet even as he spoke his heart
sank. In that moment at the Nip
pom, when he knew that he was toe
late, it had appeared probable tc
him that Oshitu would at least carry
his pretense with the girl to the
point of embarkirg in some sort OF
craft, ostenSibly for the yacht.
Now he questioned if perhaps the
boatmen spoke truly; if possibly he
had not even waited so long, but
might have overpowered and con
cealed her in some of the under
ground dives Of the town. He falt
cred at all the thought entailed, anc
the next moment he breathed again
One of the boatmen spoke:
Perhaps the honorable one speak
of man and a woman who engaged
the sampan of the insignificant Kit
a short time ago. We had no
thought of that. The question wa
Of launch or ships boat"
3f Gafford jingled the coins in hi
pocket. IL Is possible that on
knows whittier they went ?" he sug
gested.
The boatmen grinned. at is eve
possible that for a fitting price m
unworthy sampan could take tn
bounteous stranger to that place,
said he who had spoken first.
"The price may be of thy max
ing" Gafford promised. "Only max
no mistake in that place."
Without more ado, the men lai
hold of sampan and slid it into tn
water. "1f the stranger will deig
to enter" said it's owner, "he sha
live to say that Toxic, the boatmal
does not make mistakes"
Gafford sprang aboard and squatte
down. The Jap followed and Der
to his work. They moved out frol
the shore. The moon flooded all tn
reaches of the harbor and bathe
the dark hulks of the shipping an
the vessels in the roadsted with the
twinkling, riding lights. The dar
mass of the Koru was etched wit
a silver beauty, which seemed to re