The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-02-07
THE WORTFIIN GToN ADVANCE.

torinr in the remote distance whore
the three poplars marked the river
bend. Observation-Disclosures" y sid
Bailey, when he saw It. NO Too
big! Flag, perhaps" :s:s
However, 1t was not . flag. Tor it
Jumped about. Man in whites run
ming fast and this way" said Bailey.
THAT'S luck! But his whites are pre-
cious loose"
Then q singular thing happened
There was minute pink CLEAN among
the dark trees in the distance, and a
little puff of pale gray that began to
drift and vanish eastward. The man
in white jumped and continued run
ming. Presently the report OF the
shot arrived. atEE
"What the devil!'' said Bailey.
"Looks as if some one was shooting at
him."
He sat up stifiiy and stared hard.
The white figure was coming along
the pathway through the corn. ''lts
one of those niGgers from the Fitzgib-
bon's, said Bailey; ''or may l be hing:
l wonder why he keeps saving With
his arm
Then three other figures became in
distinctly visible against the dark
background Of the trees.
Abruptly on the opposite bank a
man walked into the picture. lie was
black bearded. dressed i'll Hannels with
red belt, and had Il vast gray felt hat.
He walked, leaning very much for
ward and with his hands swinging be-
fore him. Behind him one could see the
grass swept by the towing-rope OF the
boat he was dragging. He was stead
lastly regarding the white figure that
was hurrying through the corn. Sud
denly he stopped. Then, with a pc
culiar gesture, Bailey could see that
he began pulling in his tow-rope hand
over hand Over the water could be
heard the voices of the people in the
still invisible boat. i@fi.$
What are you after, Hagshot?' said
some one. 81
Hagshot shouted something that was
ipaudible and went on Juggling in the
rope, looking over his shoulder at the
advancing white figure as he did So lie
came down the bank. and the rope
the water between his pulls. @$t
Then just the bows Of the boat came
into view, with the towing mast, and
a tall, fair-haired man standing up and
irving to see over the bank. The boat
bumped unexpectedly among the
reeds. and the tall, fair-halred man
disappeared suddenly, having appar-
emily fallen back into the invisible
part of the boat. There was curse
and some indistinct laughter Hag-
shot did not laugh, but hastily clam
bered into the boat and pushed OIL
Abruptly the boat vanished. ;-"S@sss,
But it was audible. 1t. sounded as
though they were excited and alltell-
ing each other what to do. ~
The running figure was drawing
near the bank. Bailey could see
clearly now that it was one of Fitz-
gibbons orientals, and began dimly
to realize what the sinuons thing the
man carried in his hand might be.
Three other men followed one an
other through the corn, and the fore
most carried what was probably -
gun They were perhaps two hundred
yards or more behind the Malay. e.
.'It's man hunt, by all that's holy!"
said Bailey.
The Malay stopped for moment
and surveyed the bank to the right
Then he left the path, and. breaking
through the corn, vanished in that dt-
rection. The three pursuers followed
suit, and their heads and gesticulating
arms above the corn. after brief in
terval, also went out of Bafley's field
of vision. =
Bailey SO far forgot himself as to
swear. "Just as things were getting
livelyv' he said. Something like .
woman's shrek came through the air.
Then shouts, howl, DUH whack
upon the balcony outside that made
Bailey jump. and then the report Of =
gun. s.
This is precious hard on An inva-
lid,' said Bailey. 4
But more was to happen yet in his
picture. In fact, great deal moro
The Malay appeared again, running
now along the bank up stream. His
stride had more swing and less pace In
it than before. He was threatening
some one ahead with the ugly krces he
carried. The blade Bailey noticed
was ,dull-it did not shine rs steel
should. b.
Then came the tall fair man, brand
ishing boat-hook, and after him three
othe men In boating costume, rum
ming clumsily with oars. The man
with the gray hat and red belt was
not with them. After an interval tho
three me n with the gun reappeared.
still in the corn, but now near the riv-
er bank. They emerged upon the tow
ing-path, and hurried after the others.
The opposite bank was left blank and
desolate again. @
The sick room was disgraced by m ore
profanity. II would give my life to
see the end of this" said Bailey There
were indistinct shouts up stream. Once
they seemed to be coming nearer, but
they disappointed him. 4.
Bailey sat and grumbled. He was
still grumbling when his ego caught
something black and round among tho
waves ssHullor' he said, He looked