Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-11-23


ly. 1t must be sheer, dogged hunting
now, and no more cutting off corners
! By the way, there is little fact which
perhaps one of you can tell me-" he said
turning to the little group that hung
behind her skirts watching us with bu-
collie interest. did the Agnes Jane
yonder carry provisions on boardT
"Surely, zur," said one who stood a
little forward of the rest-a stout, beard
ed man with face as brown and scanned
as a withered cider apple. MARK Pen
nyfold, as is owner, was telling about
this furrin gent only last night down tu
the Plough Inn.' e allowed i'm to be
funny zort of toad, vur e 'ad lis orders
to keep a weeks vittles on board, though
the reason was passin' his understand
ing"
would Penny1old take a trip to
France if he were askedT'
"Surely, zur, eff e be paid accordin'.
'E be most mazed on the color of a bit
of gold is Mark"
THAT settles it, Miss Weston" con-
tinued Graden in his short, businesslike
way. Now please to remember my in
structions. You have the facts concern
ing Professor Marnac in my letter. Lay
an information against him for an at
tempt on your life, and see that the coun-
ty authorities circulate his description
along the coast. | don't think there is
the slightest chance that he will return
to trouble you, but be on your guard,
and have a man to sleep in the house.
Now, my lads, who has the swiftest boat
in the harborT
"Now you be askin' a question:" said
their spokesman gloomily. "You zee, it
be this wise. At the regatty, as my
Pride O. Cornwall was reaching for the
west buoy, there comes, all of sudden
like, a girt wind from over the eastern
beacon which
''He means, Sir Henry, that his boat Is
reckoned the fastest but at the regatta
she was disabled in a squall," broke in
Miss Weston, interrupting a story which
was evidently familiar in its length and
detail. This is Sir Henry Graden, Isaac
Treherne, and he is trying to capture the
wicked man in the Agnes Jane yonder,
the man who, as l told you, tried to
kill me. Will you take him in the Pride
of CornwallW
Isaac was study of indecision. He
twisted up his mouth, scratched his head.
regarded the sunset attentively, and
kicked a pebble over the edge of the
quay.
II du wish, miss, as l 'ad been nigh
you when e tried it," he said at last,
Il would ave set about the hugly toad
proper, that would. But, beggin' your
pardon, and seein' he be got away,
'twould seem a matter for the perlice
J more'n for we uns. Moreover, there be
the fish contract, and the Pride is only
waiting her crew to zail."
"It means a hundred pounds in your
pocket, my man." snapped Graden.
"a 'undred pounds Is 'undred
} pounds" replied Isaac with sententious
inconsequence.
J "But, Isaac" broke in Miss Weston,
when the story gets round to Mark
Pennyfold he will say that you refused
because you knew that the Pride could
never catch the Agnes Jane"
40 he wull-the liard.' cried Isaac,
with sudden burst of Indignation. 81
never thought on that miss. pretty
tale he will be- telling in every public
from Bude to Penzance! Come along,
gentlemen, come along. I'll show e a
thing, and Mark, tu, the liard!''
We ran to where the little trawler lay
moored to the quay, and tumbled on
board. One man was sitting in her stern
, mending some tackle, and Isaac apparent
!. ly considered his services sufficient, for
he cast off the ropes at once. Miss Wes-
, ton was waiting on the head of the quay
, | 7 ton olt rQ.
member that picture of my darling as
she stood on those old grey stones, with
their seaweed beard dropping to the swirl
of the tide below. The fire of the sunset
!. lit her tall, graceful figure leaning to
the breeze. One hand was to her hair,
, the other waving adieu. No fairer figure
of announcement could men desire who
, started on a perlous adventure.
Goodbye! God keep you both!' So
she cried to us.
We shouted reply, bit doubt if she
heard it, for at that moment the wind
caught the great red sail on our fore
mast, swinging it across with thunder
Gus tapping that shook the little vessel
from stem to stern. In another moment
we were rushing forward in pursuit, with
the spray from the bows in our faces and
, white trail of foam marking our path
from the land.
1 do not think that more than len
minutes had passed from the moment vi
our arrival on the quay, though by my
writing it may seem that | have under
estimated the time. The Agnes Jane
, was, as far as l could judge, about a
: mile away to the southwark, a distance
: which we decreased to barely a thous-
and yards before the full strength Of the
growing wind we brought had reached
her. After that, however, we gained
very slowly, if at all.
, was never a good sailor, fact which
, the long rollers soon recalled to my
} remembrance. The occasional bursts Of