Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-24
Walking SLOWLY down Fifth avenue.

Walking slowly down Fifth avenue
Mr., Minot was forced to admit tha'
he had not made very suspicious De.
ginning in his new role. Why had
Lord narrowly refused so determined
ly to invite him aboard the yacht that
was to bear the eager bridegroom
south? And what was he to do now
Might he not discover where the yacht
llay. board it at dusk, and conceal him
self in a vacant cabin until the party
was we'll under way? 1t sounded fair
ly simple.
But it proved otherwise. He was
lbalked from the outset. For two
hours, in the library of his club, In
telephone booths and elsewhere, he
sought for some tangible evidence OF
| the existence of wealthy American
named Martin Wall and yacht called
the Lileth. City directories and yacht
club year books alike were silent
Myth, myth, myth, ran through Dick
Minot's mind.
Was Lord Harrowby-as they say al
the Gaiety-spoofing him? He mount,
ed to the top Of bus, and was churn
! ed up Riverside Drive. Along the
banks of the river lay dozens OF yachts
dismantled, and swathed in winter COW
erings. Among the few that appear
ed ready to sail his keen eye discern
ed no Lileth.
| Somewhat discouraged, he returned
! to his club and startled waiter by de-
manding dinner at 4:30, he exchanged
1 his overcoat for sweater, his hat fol
a golf cap. At $50, a spy for the
| flrst time in his eventful young life
he stood opposite the main entrance Of
| the Plaza. Near by licked taxi, en-
gagged for the evening.
| An hour passed. Lights, laughter
limousines, the cold moon adding Its
brilliance to that already brilliant
square, the winter wind signing
through the bare trees Of the park
| New York seemed a city of dreams
Suddenly the chauffeur of Minot's taxi
stood uneasily before him.
Say, you amt going to shoot any
body, are you?" he asked.
| "Oh, no-you needn't be afraid OF
that
II amt afraid. just thought I'd
take off my license number If you
| was"
| All, yes-New York. City Of beau
tiful dreams!
Another hour slipped by. And only
: the little taxi meter was busy, wink
| ing mechanically at the unresponsive
moon.
! At 8:15 a tall blond man, in very
expensive fur coat which impressed
even the cab starter, came down the
| steps of the hotel. He ordered q
| limousine and was whirled away to the
west. At S:15k Mr.. Minot followed.
! Lord Harrowby's car proceeded tc
| the drive and, turning, sped north be-
tween the moonlit river and the manlit
apartment houses. In the neighbor
hood of One Hundred and Tenth street
| it came to a stop, and as Minot's cal
passed slowly by, he saw his lordsh1I
standing in the moonlight paying his
. chauffeur Hastily dismissing his owl
car, he ran back in time to see Lord
Harrowby disappear down one OF the
stone stairways into the gloom of the
. park that skirts the Hudson. He fol
lowed.
On and on down the steps and bare
wind-swept paths he hurried, unul mn
ally the river, cold, silvery,' serene
lay before him. Some thirty yards
from shore he beld the lights OF
yacht flashing against the gloomy
background Of Jersey The L1leth!
| He watched Lord Harrowby eros:
| the railroad tracks to small land
ing, and leap from that into boat II
charge of solitary rover. Then ne
heard the soft swish OF oars, anc
watched the boat draw away iron
! shore. He stood there in the shadow
until he had seen his lordship run uI
the accommodation ladder to the
L'leth's deck.
He. too, must reach the Lileth, ant
at once. But how? He glanced quick
lly up and down the bank. A small
boat was tethered near by-he raj
to it, but chain and paddock held i
firmly. He must hurry. Aboard thu
Yacht, dancing impatiently on thu
1 bosom of Hendrick Hudson's import
ant discovery, he recognized the pre-
variations for an early departure.
Minot stood for a moment looking
at the wide wet river. 1t was Feb
ruary, yes, but February Of the mildes
winter New York had experienced II
years. At the seashore he had always
dashed boldly in while others stood or
/ +he sands and shivered. He dashed
in now.
| The water was cold, shockingly cold
He struck out swiftly for the yacht
fortunately the accommodation laud.l
had not yet been taken up; In an
other moment he was clinging, a linn
and dripping spectacle, to the rail O
the Lileth.
Happily that side Of the deck was