The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-01


arms length. Mr.. Graves accepted his
property and murmured thanks, not too
cordially.
"Well," went on his companion.
"here we are! And for one wanted
to be somewhere else. Caleb" turn
ing to the station master, who came
in at that moment, "any way Of my
gettin' home tonight?''
AFRAID not, cap'n," was the answer.
II don't know of any. Guess you'll
have to put up at the hotel and wait
till mornin'."
I'm booked for South Denboro, and
that's only seven miles off. I'd swim
the whole seven rather than put up at
Sim Titcomb's hotel. I've been there
afore, thank you'll Look here, Caleb,
can't hire team and drive over?"
swell, don't know. S'pose you
might ring up Peter Shattuck and ask
him. He's pretty particular about his
horses, though, and cal'late he'--
"All right. I'll ring him up. Pete
ought to get over some Of his partic-
ularness to oblige me. I've helped him
! ence or twice."
EXCUSE ne, sir" said the lawyer.
''Did understand You to say you were
going to South DenboroY'
"Yes. 1 am II the powers and Pete
Shattuck II let me-"
"You were going to drive over? May
go with you? I'm very anxious to
get to South Denboro tonight. / have
some very important business there,
and want to complete it and get away
tomorrow. / must be back in New
York by the morning following"
swell, I don't know, Mr.
'Graves is my name"
II don't know, Mr.. Graves. This
amt goin' to be pleasure cruise ex-
actly. You might get pretty wet Il
II don't care. 1 can get dry again
when l get there. OF course I shall
share the expense Of the livery. shall
be greatly obliged IL / may go With
you. If not, must try for rig my
self"
"Oh, IL you feel that way about Il.
why, come ahead and welcome. was
only warnin' you, that's all. However,
with me aboard for ballast, guess ne
won't blow away. Wait jiffy I'll ]
get after Pete"
EEc entered the ticket Once aaux y
ed big hand to the little crank Oh the
! telephone bell. MIR
Lets see, Caleb he called, what's
Shattuck's NUMBER
"Four long and two short" answered
the station master.
Graves, wondering vaguely what sort
Of telephone system was In use on
Cape Cod, heard his prospective pilot
ring the instrument for full two sec
onds, repeating the ring four times al.
together. This he followed with two
sharp tinkles. Then came series OF
shouted "Hellos /" and at lastfragments
Of one-half Of dialogue.
"That You, Shattuck? Know who
this is, don't you? Yes, that's right.
Say, how many folks listen every time
a bell rings on this line? I've heard
no less'n eight receivers come down so
FAR. Two Of 'em went up then. Did
you hear 'em? Sartin. want to hire
team to 60 over home with. Tonight
-sartin. I don't care. Yes, you will
too. Yes, you will. Send my man
back with 1t tomorrow. / don't care
what it is, so it's got four legs and
wheels"
And SO on for at least five minutes
Then the captain hung up the receiver
and came back to the waiting room.
Bargains made, MFR. Graves" he an
nounced. "Pete'l have some sort of n
turnout alongside soon's he can get it
hanessed. II you've got any extra
storm buds in that satchel Of yours I'd
advise you to put 'em on. We're goin'
to have rough passage"
Just how rough it was likely to be,
Graves realized when he emerged from
the station to board the Shattuck bug
gy. Pete himself had driven the
equipage over from the livery stable.
II wouldn't do this for anybody but
you, cap'n," he vouchsafed in what
might be called q reproachful shout.
Wouldn't do what" replied the cap
tain, looking first at the ancient horse
and then at the battered buggy.
LET this horse out night like this"
"Humph! should think night
would be the only time you would let
him out. There, there! Never mind.
Get aboard, Mr.. Graves. Put your
satchel on the floor between your feet.
Here, let me hist that boot for you"
The ''boot" was rubber curtain
buttoned across the front of the buggy,
extending from the dashboard to Just
below the level Of the drivers eyes.
The lawyer clambered in behind 1t,
The captain followed, the end of the
reins was passed through slit In the
boot, MFR. Shuttock, after iaquiring IL
they were "all taut," gave the COM
mand, "Gid-dapi" and horse and buggy
moved around the corner of the station
out into darkness.
The view ahead, over the boot, was
blackness, bordered by spidery trees,
and branches whipping In the wind.
Occasionally they passed houses sit
ting well back from the road, lighted
window cleaning cozily. And ever,
as they moved, the storm seemed to
gather force.
| IJnxx,s.... $1,000 49,