Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-08-20

come out"
II am here" was the instant reply.
waited for no more. but ran noise
lessly for some fifty yards to the right.
1t was bitterly cold, but I stripped OFF
coat, waistcoat and boots. Then, hold
ing my gun in my left hand | pushed
through the tules and entered the lev
water. The channel was deep, and, at
the place | had selected, broad. A swim
was inevitable
When | reached the island removed
my dripping underclothes and stole for
ward, naked as an Indian. feared
that the swish of wet cloth might be-
tray my approach, and, besides, the
clinging garments might impede the
free use of my limbs. Demetrius must
be taken, if possible, alive, and l de-
cided to leave the gun within reach and
to trust to my muscles and knife
which thrust between my teeth.
What passed between masterand man
while l was executing these maneuvers
l learned subsequently. Demetrius, as
we had expected, submitted cut-and-
dried proposition, worthy, ] must adj
NIT, of his subtle brain.
He denied nothing, and conceded
nothing, but his conditions implied adj
mission of guilt Briefly, they were as
follows: Gerard and his party were to
return to the house and stay there. He
and Mark would take the morning train
to the city. There, in San Francisco,
he would leave the boy at some hotel
he naturally did not specify the hotel
and go his way. If-he laid great en-
phasis upon the conjunction-if any
treachery We're attempted, by tele-
graphic communication with the po-
lice, or otherwise, he swore soemnly to
Kill the boy instantly. Tie would use
his own Judgment as to when and where
he would part company with Mark. and
he demanded in addition a solemn
pledge from Gerard that he, Demetrius,
should be given plenary dissolution for
his misdeeds up to date.
Gerard, knowing the nature of the
man, and trembling with apprehension
for the safety of his darling, was about
to accede to these impudent demands as
I crawled within earshot.
let me have the boy now," he
pleaded
Demetrius laughed The scoundrel
could twist the famous financier around
his little finger, as man twists ring;
and the occupation amused him.
''Mr. Gerard"-he was never more
studously polite-"AIr. Gerard, / am
not fool. You know that, sir"
"Where is Mark?" painted the father.
"Asleep. Shall awake him."
Put him in the boat, and you can go
where you will"
you speak for yourself, Mr. Gerard;
but there are others, who are-er-in-
terested in me. There is that very
lucky young man, Mr.. Hugo Livingston.
Where is he, by the bye?"
Here, you damned scoundrel," said
I; "here."
had him by the throat as I spoke,
and second later caught the strangle
hold on him-the hold which made
Evan Lewis famous as a wrestler. He
writhcd and twisted, but the hold can
never be broken between men of equal
strength. Before a minute had passed
he was as rag doll. gave his wind.
pipe last squeeze and flung him sense.
less to the ground. The fight was over
Meantime Jap and Gerard-the latter
could not swim-had plunged into the
slough and, the water reaching only to
their neclls, had landed safely upon the
island.
Gerard rushed to the hut, but JAP
remained with me. The Greek lay, an
inert mass, at my feet.
you've had all the fun" said Jap, re-
rroachfully. "But I'd like, sir, to tie
him up good an fast"
eve have no ropes" replied. The
question of securing Demetrius had al.
ready perpleNed me.
'There are ropes in the hut" said Jap.
"I'll get EN-"
Bring a light" called after him,
''and be quick about it,"
] could hear the voices of father and
son, the breathless explanations and
boyish CALCULATIONS of surprise. Mark,
junior, had the wa,lnest affection for
the Greek, who, as have said before,
had acquired dominating influence