Middletown transcript., 1898-11-05

Morton's house relating bis story.
"Why, certainlyp' cried the genial
doctor, as soon as Larry explained what
he wanted. "For my old friend Grey
would do anything. The yacht shall
be ready in an hour"
Before o'clock the Norma was steam :,
ing swiftly out of the harbor in pursuit
; Of the ahsconders. On the bridge with
the captain stood Larry and DR.. Nor
ton, the latter being man ever ready
for lark or an adventure.
"Save your precious eyas, young fel.
low, said the captain, seeing the lad
staring out to sea. "The Vixen amt
no suggard. You may lay to it that
by now she's forty miles away"
"Shall we overtake her before dark?"-
inquired Larry anxiously.
"Carn't possible say. If she hain't
made straight course, the chances are
we'll miss her altogether. Must trust
to luck for it.o
As Larry gazsd out over the bound
less ocean his heart sank within him.
He had been sanguine enough on shore,
but in this immense aud unfamiliar
element, he could not read success quite
so clearly. The variation of point or
two between the course Of pursuer and
pursued would spoil everything.
| Ala o'clock they spoke an inward
bound brig. Had she seen anything of
two-masted yacht2 She had! Her
namep None visible! Painted white
or blackp WhiteI Larry's heart boun-
ded with delight and encouragement.
The course of the Norma was now
altered slightly, to accord with the di-
rections received from the brig. The
beautiful yacht seemed to feel fresh
impulse, and to eleaye the waves with
renewed vigor and energy.
It was precisely 5:15 when the cap
tain, who was scanning the horizon
with his telescope, exclaimed: "By |
thunder, it's herl There she isl Theirs
more white yachts than the Vixen, but |
if that aint her, feed me forever on
sluch and oakum."
DR.. Morton took the glass and cor
roborated the captains opinion, and to
make trebly sure the telescope was han
ded to the police officer. The utmost
limit Of speed was put on, and, forty |
minutes later, the Norma and the Vixen |
were running along side by side.
"Pull up, there, Vixenl" shouted DR..
Morton; "we want word with your
| owners"
"Been up all night. They're taking |
nap" came the reply.
Just then pale, frightened face bob
| bed up from tile companionway, and
instantly bobbed down again. II Was
the face of Peters.
Larry was trembling with excitement.
Tie police officers, who had remained
out of sight, now stepped forwarl and
shouted across: "Look here, my lads;
in the name of the law command you
to drop your sails. Pve warrant here
for the arrest Of those twI men in your
cabin; so you disobey me at your peril. u
The sailors of the Vixen stared at
each other in blank dismay; then COM
ing to their sense, they sprAng to the
ballads and the sails fell Gathering to
| the deck.
Tue Morna's boat was lowered and |
the police officers, Larry and the
doctor were rowed on board. Reaching
the cabin.door they found that it was
securely barred on the inside. A blow
from the end of spar boon sent it fly
ing back, however, disclosing Peters
standing below, pointing revolver
straight up through the entrance, while
in the further corner Wilkins could be
seen STOPPING over and apparently
struggling with something
There was despsratelook on Peters's
face as he glared up at the intruders-
the look of criminal driven to bay. |
The officer IS command to yield brought
no reply. Whal was to be doneP For
a moment it seemed that the pair could
never be captured without bloodshed.
Then the doctor hit upon a stratagem.
| Procuring the policeman's revolver
he crawl ed noiselessly over the top of
the cabin to the skylignt. The officer
and Larry stood ready to leap down
the cabin stairs. All of sudden DR..
Mortar thrust the muZzle of his pistol
throuh the skylgat with crash, caus-
Peters to turn and face the new danger.
His weapon exploded but the bullet
buried its self harmlessly in the cabin
ceiling. This was the others oppor-
tunity. With bound the office was
upon Peters, and the next instant Lar
ry wa, struggling with Wilkins, who
turned upon him with large auger
with which he ha been trying TO scut-
tie the yacht.
The cashier made a murderous thrust
at Larry's neck, bat the lad graspsd his
wrist and the next moment Wilkins /
lay sprawling upon the cabin floor
with Larry on top of him. At this
juncture, in rushed DR.. Morton and the
captain, and, with their assistance Lar
ry and the officer soon had the strugg-
ling scoundrles in the strong grip of the
iron bracelets.
Larry's next thought was to secure
the stolen money. 1t was found in a
leather handbag, slowed away in the
darkest corner of the locker.
The Norma got back to Westport
with her prisoners just before mid
| ni0hk Tho ta1aoranh of71 % had l1n0