Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic

ng for is in this room or not, Glynn," said the

do not," protest

he room to any

fellows all run together, and I don't know who are in the rooms. W

d not sound at all like Lynch's. My hopes were failing, and I would have taken half m

oor," said

e appeared to be as innocent as his immaculate assistant. Both of them apologized to me for the rude treatment to which I had been subjected, and declared that they had made a bad mistake in taking me for a house-breaker, since I was now vouched for by no excellent a person as Captain Davis, of the steamer Fawn

re or not. If the local newspaper stated that a person had been robbed of a hundred dollars at Redwood's lodging-house, the fact would deter others from going there, for even gamblers and other fast men would object to

tirely willing that he should increase his credit as a thief-taker by restoring my property, and I warmly seconded his endeavors. We watched the lodging-house till dinner time, but without seei

in Davis had caused a thorough search to be made in the town, without obtaining the slightest clew to them. I was amazed, and so were others who were interested in the fate of the abse

eady to proceed on her voyage, and the passengers were grumbling at the delay; but Captain Davis was unwilling to proceed without the absentees. In the middle of the afternoon he cast off his fasts, when a portion of his passengers, who had not

ut old Matt had been a father to me, and the coming of Mr. Gracewood furnished me with a competent instructor in manners, morals, and the various branches of learning. After the death of old Matt, my good friend had been strangely joined by his wife and daughter, and

in the keeping of Mr. Gracewood, though I held his note for it, and was in no danger of losing it, though he should never appear again. But I had no selfish thoughts. I was interested only in the safety of my friend and his family.

er boat could get away from Leavenworth. Like all other western steamboat masters, he said and did all he could to get and keep his passengers. Extending from the mouth of the stream, where our steamer

to the pilot, as the boat was pa

d by the order, and fearful that he had

," said he, poin

he river. The boat was run up to the point, and it

s the oar was examined on board. "If they didn't lo

lose the other," s

y they lost both oars

at upset?" I asked, wi

ard from the men. The whole party could not have been drowned

k has become of t

em. I'm sure of that. It's absurd to think that three men should be lost i

asked the man

ick up the party

ew minutes. Captain Davis was annoyed at this circumstance, for she would take the passengers and freight that were waiting at the various points on the river below, which would otherwise have been taken by the Fawn. I saw him go down to the main deck, where the furnaces and boilers were located, and in a short time I was conscious that they were crowding the boat up to her highest speed. A ra

and chagrin, did not stop. It was possible that the Gracewoods had been c

landing here? Captai

of me, and I shall get no freight or p

ood and his fam

I feel that I have done

might

e there, they can take passage in the Daylight. They will not suffer any

misery till I h

stop to get them, even if I knew they were at Delaware City. But we shall hear from your friends before long. The Daylight

her all the time, how shal

make it an object. If the Gracewoods are on board of her, they will make themselves known as she goes by. There will be a g

board as soon as the plank was laid down. The freight was immediately taken on board. I was very tired after the exertions and excitement of the day and of the preceding evening, and I went to bed, hoping and expecting to see the Daylight a

es saluted my ears. Half dressed, I went out upon the gallery of the boat, but I could see nothing that looked like Kansas City, or t