The Argosy, September 1915 — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

272 manded the spokesman, turning again to Rosalind. She told him. “And the names of the members of your party, please? ” She gave him those, while he made a careful memorandum of each. “And this man?” with a nod at the boatman. “sam.” “Sam what?” “Merely Sam, so far as I know.” He looked at the boatman for fur- ther enlightenment. ‘“Sam merely,” echoed that person. Again there was a whispered con- ference aboard the second craft. “Do you Schmidt? ’”’ asked the one in authority, speaking to the boatman. Sam indicated that he did. “ Heinrich Schmidt? ”’ “‘T believe that’s his name. fit together, anyhow.” “Who is he?” “One of my best customers.” “Where’s he from?” ‘Chicago, so he told me. the game?” “You took him to Rockport three days ago, didn’t you?” “*"Lhoet stight-” “ And to Gananoque? ” “ Right again.” “ And he’s been to Kingston twice with you?” “ Three times,” corrected Sam. “What was he doing at those places?” “Doing? How didn’t follow him.” The four men in the strange boat withdrew to the farther end of their craft and put their heads together. Rosalind watched them impatiently. Even Morton displayed a mild inter- est, while the Winter girls stopped knitting and looked worried. “Where does this man Schmidt stop?” demanded the spokesman when he emerged once more from the con- ference. “Oh, he’s been drifting around at They What's , do I know? I know a man named. THE, ARGOSY. two or three places on the American side.” _ “Who does he meet?” “Give it up,” answered Sam. “ I’m not in charge of him. I’m just his boatman.” “If you are looking for smugglers,” interrupted Rosalind, ‘‘ why—” “We're not, madam,” snapped the stranger. He turned again to Sam. “ Did this man Schmidt ever discuss military subjects with you?” “Yes, indeed. That is, once.” The men _ exchanged _ significant glances. “ When—and what? ” ‘The last time I had him out,” said Sam. “ He wanted to know if I didn’t think Grant gave General Sigel a raw deal when he put somebody else on the job in the Shenandoah Valley.” The spokesman in the trim power- boat frowned heavily. goed Ss 2 ae “All I remember. Except he said his father fought with Sigel and al- ways claimed that Halleck framed him. I don’t know whether he did or not, but I said I’d speak about-it some time and see if I could find out. You wouldn’t happen to know yourself, “ck - would you?” The man glared suspiciously. Rosa- lind turned her face away and began dabbling one hand in the water, over the side of the boat. “Well, I guess we'll take you up to Kingston,” said the spokesman after a minute of deliberation. a few things that need looking into.” Sam. glanced about him casually. “Not now you won’t,” he observed as he proceeded to refill his pipe. “We've crossed the line.” The man made a swift survey of the river and the islands and uttered an angry exclamation. “You see, you talked too much,” added the boatman deferentially. “You talked so long that we drifted over into American water. If you try to take me now they'll send a battle- COMNICLOOKS ‘“‘’There are (©)