The Ordway new era., 1921-12-16

He raised his eyebrows. Cant
say. I'm sure" He gave me an ap-
praising stare. Perhaps the woe In
my face touched him. for he descend
ed from the eminence of the hotel
clerk where he dwelt apart sufficient
ly to add, as 1t important that you
should see her?"
II am her niece. 1 have come all
the way from San Francisco expect
ing to join her here"
The clerk meditated. his shrewd
eyes piercing the very secrets of my
soul
"She knew nothing about It." has
tened to add. 81 intended 1t for
surprise"
This candor helped my cause.
"Well." he said, ''that explains her
not leaving any word. AS you are
her niece, suppose 1t will do no harm
to tell you that Miss Harding and her
party embarked this morning on the
frelghter Rufus Smith, and 1 think
it very likely that the steamer has
not left port. If you like will send
man to the waterfront with you and
you may be able to go on board and
have talk with your aunt"
Did l thank him? l have often
wondered when / walked up in the
night. I have vision of myself
dashng out of the hotel. and then the
hack that brought me is bearing me
away. Bellboys hurled my bags In
after me, and I threw them largess
recklessly. Madly we clattered over
cobbled ways. Out on the smooth
waters of the roadstead lay ships
great and small, ships with stripped
masts and smokeless tunnels, others
with faint gray spirals wreathing up
ward from their stacks. Was one of
these the Rufus Smith, and would I
reach her-or him-before the thin
gray feather became thick black
plume? l thought of my aunt at the
mercy OF these unknown adventures
with whom she had set forth, help
less as a little fat pigeon among
hawks, and l felt, desperately, that I
must reach her, must save her from
them and bring her safe back to
shore. How 1 was to do this at the
eleventh hour, plus about fifty-seven
minutes, as at present, 1 hadn't con-
sidered. But experience had taught
me that once in my clutches Aunt
Jane would offer about as much re-
sistance as slightly melted wax doll.
She gets so soft that you are almost
afraid to touch her for fear of leav-
ing dents.
So to get there, get there, get there,
was the one prayer of my soul.
1 got there, in boat hastily COM
mandeered by the hotel clerks dep
uty. We brought up under the side
of the little steamer. and the wide
surprised face of Swedish deck
hand stared down at us.
"Let me aboard! must come
aboard" cried.
Other faces appeared, then a rope
ladder. Somehow was mounting
it-a dizzy feat to which only the trl-
multi of my emotions made me indif-
ferent. Bare brawhy arms of sailors
clutched at me and drew me to the
deck. There at once i was the CEN
ter of circle of speechless and aston
| ished persons, all men but one.
"Well?" demanded n large breezy
voice. whats this mean? What do
you want aboard my ship?"
l looked up at red-faced man in
large straw hat.
| Il want my aunt" I explained.
your aunt?" he roared. "Why the
devil should you think I've got your
aunt?"
"You have got her." I replied with
firmness. 81 don't see her, but she's
here somewhere"
The captain Of the Rufus Smith
shook two large red fists above his
head.
Another lunatic!" he shouted. "Td
as soon have white horse and min
lister aboard as go to sea in floating
bedlam"
AS the captains angry thunder
died away came the small anxious
voice of Aunt Jane.
whats the matter? Oh, please tell
me what's the matteri" she was say
Ing as she edged her way into the
group. Her eyes, round, pale, blink
ing little in the tropical glare,
roved over the circle until they lit on
me- Right where she stood Aunt Jane
petrifed. Her poor little chin dropped
until 1t disappeared altogether In the
folds OF her. plump neck. and she re-
manned speechless, stricken, immobiIe
as wax figure in an exhibition.
Aunt Jane" said, "you must come
right back to shore with me-" I spoke
calmly, for unless you are perfectly
calm with Aunt Jane you fiuster her.
She replied only by slight COB
bling In her throat, but the other
woman spoke in loud voice, ad-
dressed not to me but to the universe