Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-01-16
Continued from last week

encounter. Kirby and pass unrecOg-
nized. Convinced as he undoubtedly
was of my death in the black waters of
the river he could not possibly imag-
inc my presence aboard the Adven-
turer, while my personal appearance
was so utterly changed as to suggest
10 his mind no thought of familiarity.
The conditions were all in my favor.
! was smiling grimly at this conceit,
we'll pleased at the chance thus af-
forded me, when the stateroom door
was suddenly flung open and the hairy
face of the mate thrust within.
81 reckon yer better tote them wet
duds down ter the boiler ROOM" he
said gruffiy, IAN then git sum grub.
Likely 'nough yer wouldn't mind
eatin' bit. Be yer river man?'
1--WE never worked on steamboat,
if that is what you mean"
mo; well, reckoned not, but the
captain he thought maybe yer had. l
toll him yer didn't talk like no steamer
hand. Howsumever, we're almighty
short O. help aboard an maybe yer'd
like job ter help pay yer way?"
My fingers invOluntarily closed on
some loose goldpieces in my pocket,
but a sudden thought halted me. Why
not? In what better way could /
escape discovery? AS an employee
of the boat would go about the decks
unsupported and unnOticed. Kirby
>ro,1Id uoN-o,. Oiya mo q cacoOd fbOl1pht
or glance, while the opportunity thus
afforded of speaking to Rene and be-
ing of service to her would be immeaS-
prably increased. I withdrew my
hand, swiftly deciding my course of
action.
81 suppose I might as well earn a
Bit" I admitted, hesitatingly. "Only l
had about decided I'd enlist If the
war was still going on when we got up
there"
'That'll be all right. Wen keep yer
busy TIL then, enyhow. Go on down
below now an eat, an when yer git
through climb up the ladder an report
ter me. What'll l call yer?"
Steve"
''Steve-hey; sorter handy man,
amt yer?''
"Well, I've done a little of every
thing in my time. I'm not afraid to
work"
During most of the remaining hours
of the morning the mate kept me en-
qloyed below, in company with num-
~
over the miscellaneous cargo, which
had evidently been very hastily load
ed TIE work was hard and dirty,
and after a few hours of it I must
iave looked my assumed part to per-
lection. The Overseer gave me hat
which added little to my personal APP
p,.arance, and by the time we wn"o
called to knock off for the noon meal
l was thoroughly tired and disguised,
feeling as much a roustabout as GER
tainly looked.
The meal was served on an I'M
planed plank, the ends resting on kegs
in front of the boilers. l was still
busily munching away on the coarse,
prowling about, CHANGED to spy me
among the shadows.
"Hullo; is that you, SteveT' he
asked gruffly. "Weli, when yer git
done eatin' l got another job fer yer
on deck. Yer hear me?"
/ signified that did, and indeed was
even then quite ready to go, my heart
thrObbing at this opportunity to sur
yey other sections of the boat. l fol
lowed him eagerly up the ladder, and
ten minutes later was Dusily employed
with scrubbing brush and bucket OF
water, in an endeavOr to improve the
outward appearance of the paint OF
the upper deck. was engaged busily
scraping at the dingy paint Of the pilo
house, when a negro, evidently cook
from his dress, came up from tht
lower deck, bearing a tray we'll ladeI
with food in one hand, and disap
peared aft. He did not even notice
my presence or glance about, but
instantly shrank back out of sight, fo
/ became Immediately conscious tina
someone was closely following him
This second man proved to be one o
the fellows in civilian clothing l hat
previously noticed at the table below
a tall, sallow individual. attired in ;
suit of brown jeans, his lean, cracke
face ornamented by a grizzled bunch
OF chin whiskers.
Eyer wait q minute thar, Jim," h
called out, It'll 1 unlock that tina
door / amt Their kind tibet take
chances with no niger
1 recognized the peculiar voice in
stantly, for l had listened to that laz
drawl before while hidden in the dark
ness beneath the Beaucaire veranda-
the fellow was Tim, the deputy she1
iff from ST. Louis. The negro reste
his tray on the rail, while the whit
man fumbled through his pockets TO
a key, finally locating it and insertin
the instrument into the lock of tn
second cabin from the stern. l hear
no words exchanged with anyone with
in, but the negro pushed the tray fol