Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

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>jwn>v PU Cfu, htiO Ot hll f have a careful eye to the safety of his customer's -costume with a smirlt afif fmaiiy Ih'ankS, promised to ordinary garments, aird Kleckser once more suites* dered himself to the guidance of M. Jules. f CHAPTER xxxvri. THE TIGElf'S DRY. THBMciHA the murky slums connecting the broader thoroughfares in the neighbourhood of the Minories, with an agility which showed intimate acquaintance with the locality, the agent led his charge through streets as utterly unknown to Kleekser asthe suburbs of Pekin, until they finally came out upon Ratcliff Highway. Crossing, they made towards the river- side. Here M. Ju'os encountered, evidently by ap- pointment, a companion; whom he introduced to „ M "Thou art late, my bUve," said tlia comrade to Jules; but all is well. The bird is in the cage, suspecting nothing. Followme. They skirted the Thames as closely as the houses would permit, now crossing coal-barges and lighters, now making a circuit to avoid a wharf, then passing under archways and through yards. Pavement, apparently, had not yet seemed a necessity to the river-side mind, for in many places they were com- pelled to walk nearly ankle deep in mire and slush, or cross holes filled with garbage, musty bay, or, rotting straw. Here dogs fought for decaying flesh, and snapped at the legs of passers-by. At last the companions halted at a wharf upon the bank of the river. It was about eleven o'clock, and the tide was at the full. The dull. black wtves flapped lazily, with a fat and greasy yipple, against the piles sup- porting the wharf. A distance from the shore some speculative watermen and bof were dragging for any stray relic of mortality that m'.ance to iurn up. chap 37 Upon the extremity of the wharf, partly, indeed, tfciKi out upon the self-same piles, stood at this date a small, two-storied tavern, the*" Jolly Waterman." Originally the lioufle must have been of greater height than now. for above its, sloping wooden roof -clearly a makesbift-still rose two little chambers, which had evidently formed part of at least one ad. ditional set of rooms. Tbase attics looked upon the tiver from the side, and overhung it considerably at the back. The side window of each commanded the approach to the wharf. I I chap 37 "You see that room, monsieu sit, Ju.les to Kleckser, pointing from to, that is the& now let us see if the t; The three men e 4\ small bar occupied one end < caslrtu that served at once tooa round the p'ace. nee to the tap-room—the ore. n Ideal benches, and tables mau. i which three or four jolly watt suing their self-imposed calling boozing away the proceeds of the t \Jc randlord, a strong, red-faced fellow, wiui anir. res I tolled up to his shoulders, exposing brawny, hn ate orms, was drinhing among the group. The entrance tf Kleckrer, with Tronchet's agents, brought him into j.. he bar. Hullo! Mounseer Jules," exclaimed the landlord, so soon as he perceived his guests- Doii't often see you down this way. What'll yer-tfc-gents ? Brandy —gin—rum? Got seme capital rl RealJamaiky, Til warrant, though It never seed t».: West Hingees. Non§ the wuss for that, though, be it ? Try the real Jamaiky. No ? Prefer brandy—brandy it is, iry tulips—real furrin coneyhac." The liquor being produced, and the landlord, j nothing loth, having' filled a fourtlv glass for 1 >self, ) at ileckser's desire—and expense—M. Jules 1 explained the object of their visit. Ho could without: risk of being overheard by the drinker the tap-rc. rn; for those jolly watermen, after sta. 7 moment at the new-comers, had recommeru shouting a cAiorus to an interminable ditty, bello by tV<e '-ober of -her- "-h man true Briti^. jpe. tune. "Blow it!" obsei his head with a perp abstraction of mind, he of brandy. It's rather a here gent vants to see my led: that, Mounseer JuLs. But '( want to see this 'ere gent ? Yer In course I'd be proud an' 'app) any friend of M, anseer Tronohy, as » to reason—nothii more than my doot, but then I shou l't like anyone to Set n. v. vilile 's livin' hi t my roof. That's von thing. Then, alzirt, does 'eri gent kno^r ezackly the sort o' customer Tants to ded. with? That's another." "Worthy host," uded M. Jqles, we under- stand your scruples y are honourable, they are just. There it7- ho' no danger to your lodger, of the kind you f?ar. s gentlen- recommended, as you know, most strouly by hief, peeks only from your lodger some i^hnau. he can easily give. The other ob, •■ctiou is more sen. is. For it's remavii- my good frierd, we depend on you." Oh," returned the lardlord, evidently taken aback. Kleckser took up his payable. I know quite veil, my friend," he said, de character of dis man. See him I must, see him I vill. I had intended simply and quietly to valk upstairs, vhen I; had found his 1 lodging, and ask Mm b!ainly vhat I vish to know. M. Jules peiieves wtKi'd hot to." The landlord looked at M. Jules, and laughed. Well, sir," he answereil "I shouldn't ezackly think it would. You might go up and you might get in; but coming out is altogether a different matter. That's vhere you'd be if you didn't agree with him and that's vhat, you'd be in about three weeks." He pointed through the window looking out upon the river, to the boat with its crew of jolly watermen, whose movements showed they had secured a prize. As Kleckser followed the direction of the landlord's finger, the drags came to the surface with a ghastly load. Kleckser shuddered. For a minutehis courage faltered, but the recollection of Raymond, the thought of Ruth, and of the rich reward his sanguine spirit presaged for her brother's rescue, revived his drooping heart, and urged him on. "See him I must," he repeated to the landlord, and speak vid him as veil. If you can help me, I J shall pe grateful—look!" He drew a couple of j do and speak vid him as veil. If you can help me, I J shall pe grateful-look!" He drew a couple of j f sovereigns from his pocket, and slipped them into J the landlord's hand. It closed instinctively. "If j you refuse," continued Kleckser, I shall go all dft j same." j Then hang me if you shan't see him cried the I proprietor of &c Jolly Waterman." Hikes pluck, ltxeclltefl AJL Chronicle Office, Penarth. "V 'I. «v^iraftTfr!^r^^{rer< r opes-ana you- an fiave the'tip. But the bribe had somehow disappengaa. s The landlord drew Kleckser inside the fear, tooR him into a corner, and whispered. In a few minutes the German again >/<iame forward. His face was pale, but determined and resolute. The landlord looked after him with a, half-adminn?, half-regretful gaze. V c M. Jules," said Kleckser to the agent, do me the favour to post yourself with your- comrade witbift sight of the attic window. If I do not return within one hour, call in the, police, for murder will have been done. My friends, adieu F And Kleckser, following the landlord's directions, went up stairs. Arrived at the attic, he rapped dis- creetly at M, ärmann's door-r-rapped twice, and waited. Who it is ?" sounded angrily from within. ■ ? Waterman," answered Kleckser, loudly. "Aha! ratibergiste,n [the landlord], muttered tM voice inside the room. A bolt was drawn up, and Kleckser entered the tiger's den. The inmate of the room was lying c snoking, upon a bed drawn close to the window lo-il,ing out upon. the river, opened widely for the sake of air. His back was towards thfc door, and he was leaning on his elbow, by the string by which the bolt had been withdrawn still, in his hand. Kleckser closed the door behind him, and walked boldly up to the bed- side. The man upon the bed rolled over upon his back to look 'at his visitor. His eye fell upon Kleckser. "Hola! This is hot$vaterman! he exclaimed in French, starting to his feet in a second, with a pistol, produced from some place of concealment, in his hand. "Who arg you? What do you seek ?' Speak, on the instant, or I fire! Diantre! speak, I say." chap 37 Ris tall form towered above the little German, whom he grasped tightly with one hand by the collar, while with the other he pressed the muzzle of the pistol against his forehead. The situation was any- thing but agreeable. "Speak, I say!" thundered Poing. Who art hou? spy, traitor, orpólièe? Is the rascal dumb ?* He stamped furiously"; If you will give me time, monsieur," said Kleckser, coolly putting the weapon from ita un- pleasant proximity to his temple, "1 will explain. But your receptidn is embarrassing, even to one not very timid. Take, Away that pistol, and I shall be better able to speak. Popguns go off by accident sometimes." Poing measured his visitor grimly. For a moment Kleckser's life hung upon the motion of this man's forefinger. He felt it, but did not flinch. Poing lowered the weapon, then returned it to his breast. "He is but a little one, after all," he muttered. Better not make a Ybw if it can be avoided. Stop There may be more outside. Watching Kleckser warily from the corner of his evie, tV)ing stole to the door, opened it rapidly, peeped I& reclose t it, and placed across tha panels a heavy iron t,ar then turned to his visitor. "Sit there," he said, pointing to a chair. "No!' Away from the table. We will have no furtive cocking of a pistol underneath. Now, tell your erran^ Kleck obeyed submissively. He knew well that his only chance yin not ardnsing the ferocious in- stincts of the human animal before him. If he could gain time to show l'oing tlu> ha/.afdous position of his confederate, point out clearly that Part's scheme was upon the brink ot exposure and ruin, then arouse cupidity, and proffer not only safety but reward, he believed the battle so hotly contested would be fairly won. Courage had already gained a great advantage: it remained for tact to follow up the blow. "I see you do not know me under thisf disguise," be began. "It was chosen because you would j not hear me in my proper shape. Look closer, and I you will perceive that we have met before—once at Lucerne again this week, when you evaded me by a rick." Poing stared at his visitor in blank surprise. It was evident that the announcement of Kleckser's identity with the individual who had alarmed him in Switzerland, and had arrested him in Pall-mall, had not previously crossed, his mind. Now, however, his keen eye, practised in the ready detection of disguise, at once perceived the truth. chap 37 "I see you are the same," he answered. U That oublesome fellow who knew so much and yet so little. Well, your object is so far gained. Luckily for yoa, I am inclined to be indulgent this morning Speak on. I listen." chap 37 Thus encouraged, Kleckser commenced his story. Perfect frankness was the safest policy. Announcing himself as an intimate friend of White, he told of the distress occasioned to all who loved him by their ignorance of the young man's fate. He showed that strong suspicion had from the beginning rested upon Par), and that it was now converted into certainty by Poing's. intercepted letter from Lucerne. He dwelt upon the impossibility that Parl's grand scheme— whatever it might be—could be brought to a suc- cessful issue; upon the little chance of his ever being able, even were he willing, to remunerate his con- federate upon the point that, the facts already as- certained once l/ifeiiglit tb Van Flewker's knowledge* the manager's instant dismissal would inevitably follow. "You will see, therefore," be concluded, "how hopeless is the plot in which you are concerned. The- exact position? ta known to others as well as to me. To silence me will thus ava-il you nothing—will not retard for a moment the progress of discovery-)1 even brlpg, dowo-bpon your head instant vengeance. Look from the window—there, upon the wharf, beneath that archway. The two men you see have orders, if I do not return within an hour, to summon the police. How will your position be bettered by falling beneath the clutch of the English law ?" Poing gazed cautiously from the window, saw M. Jules and his comrade on their watch, and noticed that two policemen, placed on guard by the agents loitered near the approaches to the wharf. He turned' towards the river. Escape was cut off in that direction also. Vigilant M. Jules had induced an in- spector of the Thames police to post a galley in readiness to pick up a fugitive. The men sat with their oars in the rowlocks, prepared for instant work; the steersman's eye was fixed upon the attic window. > Poing's coolness never deserted him for a moment. He turned to Kleckser with a smile. Plague your plans are well laid," he remarked. You were resolved I should not elude you this time, eh? Complete as your arrangements are, though, I Rave e&caped from greater odda. No matter