Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-10-18
CHAPTER XVII.

murderer's bullet struck his scalp, int1lct-
Ang a painful but by no means danger
Gus wound Had he fallen on dry land
he must have remained stunned for some
time; but the element Of danger-the
water-restored his reason the moment he
sank.
With great presence Of mind, and
keen realization of the danger passed,
and the danger that surrounded him, ne
threw himself on his back and Heated
down with the tide. He drifted till he
reached that part of the river crossed Dy
the many ferryboats between New York
and the Jersey shore.
Gradually he gained control Of his
arms and legs, and he turned to make
for the shore; but by this time the tide
had swept him into the middle of the
bay He soon found that he had not the
strength to make the shore, marked by
circles of dim lights. All his efforts were
now bent to keeping afloat hoping to at
tract the attention of passing boats.
Though it was a midsummer night ms
long stay in the water was chilling him.
The loss Of blood was weakening him.
Out from the Staten Island shore
boat came, urged by four powerful row.
.ers. He turned and saw the flash of
the moonlight on the blades, that struck
the water like the quick wings of bird
skimming the surface.
He rose, with a mighty effort, so that
head and shoulders were out of water,
and shouted:
Help
Crest on your oars" commanded
.Smugg, from the stern sheets of the boat.
The men obeyed. The craft neared
where the man had disappeared. Smugg
.sprang to his feet with a boat-hook in
his, hand He plunged it down, where the
bubbles were rising. The hook caught,
and the boat swung round as if on
pivot
Above the surface form was brought
ITO view. Another second and Smugg
had turned it, so that the head was out
of water, and quicker than it takes to re-
cord it. Paul Neville was lying in the bot
tom of the boat.
"Now, boys, make for Shore" said
Smugg.
The boat was headed for Brooklyn. 1t
entered a maze of canal boats, RATS and
coal barges. A landing was made. The
boat was hauled up and covered with
sail, evidently kept for that purpose at
this point. A brief inspection showed
that the man they had rescued was
breathing freely, and partially restored
TO consciousness.
!. Il think we can make this case pay
us.'' said Smugg to his companions, when
he recognized the man he had rescued.
A hack was procured after some delay,
and Smugg, with the rescued man, and
two of his own friends, filled the inside.
Two got up beside the driver. and away
they went to 1.-THE Sailors Welcome"
1t was midnight when they reached
their resdezvous. Smugg went in and
xnotioned to the fat woman that he had
something of a private nature to COM
municate.
"Any danger?" asked the fat woman,
when they stood beside the cab.
..No! We picked a man up in the bay.
He is pretty we'll played out, and want
you to care for him for few days.
..But why should | care for him,
Smugg? l have enough to do to care
for myself and my good-for- nothing nus
band"
''There's money in it.
who'll oay?'
81 will. I'll pay you double rates. Just
do as l say"
Every well, Smugg; if you pay it's all
I.
nm 70 the third story, back room. There
amt no one in that room at present
Like one walking in a dream, Paul
Neville, supported by Smugg and the fat
woman. tottered up the stairs to 'the
third story back" and was laid upon the
he'd After dry clothing had been put on
Smugg asked:
How do you feel now?'
~xSuo+tar thanks muttered Paul.
.Smugg examined the wound, whistled,
and went out. He soon came back with
scissors and plasters, and with that
quick. rude skill that distinguishes sailors
and soldiers. he dressed the wound.
500 YOU know me?" asked Smugg,
when he had made the rescued man COM
Portable.
Il do"
~Did you ever expect to have me ia
you good turnT
"I never did you or any other man q
bad one" replied Paul.
..T'hat may be- But amt agoin' to
talk about that now. You stay here till
L come back"
Smugg went to the door and stopped,
With his hand on the knob. He came
mack. and seeing that Paufs eyes were
closing. he said
..How did you happen to get so in the
wetg''
"I don't know" replied Paul, the heavy
lids falling again.
"Where were you last night?"
.At the Hermann place"
Smugg opened his mouth very wide and
winked his eyes very fast Then he said
..Ho. no." and went out, closing the door
noiselessly behind him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The disappearance of Kitty Boyne,
though a great mystery to Lem Dodd and
Hannah. is very easily accounted for. She
wenr. in answer to an advertisement to
a large establishment that wanted women