The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-30


have a strong arm to lean on again"
Returning to the deck | found that
the light II the morning was growing.
Vessels were moving. The whistles
of the ferry boats. as they gave warn
ing Of their way through the mist, rose
shrill on the air. The waters were
stli. faint ripple showing in strange
contrast to the scene Of last night.
There's a steamer behind us, said
Dicky Dahl. with worried look as
Joined him. 1--WE been listening to 1t
for i've minutes"
Its a tug" said the captain. "She
was lying on the other side OF the
wharf last night"
Good heayens!" cried. Put on
full steam, then, or we shall be run
down in the bay. It's the gang we are
trying to get away from"
The captain looked at me SUSPECT
ously for moment. and was inclined
to resent my interference. Then he
shrugged his shoulders as though 1t
was none of his business whether we
were luuarics or not SO long as we
paid for the privilege. and rang the
engine bell for full speed ahead.
We had Just come out Of the Oak
land Greek channel and the mist sud
denly thinned before US. 1t left the
hay and the city fair and wholesome
in the gray light, as though the storm
| had washed the CRIME and foulness
| from air and earth and renewed the
| freshness OF life We had come but
few hundred yards into the clear air
when out of the mist bank behind us
shot another tug.
At the exclamation that broke from
us our captain for the frat time show
ed interest in the speed of his boat.
and whistled angrily down to his en-
gineer.
I'VE can beat her." he said. with
contemptuous accent on the her"
That's your business" | returned.
and walked aft TO where Mrs. Knapp
was standing. halfway up the steps
from the cabin.
Can they catch us?" inquired Mrs.
Knapp. the lines Tightening about her
mouth.
Il think not-the captain says not.
should say that we were holding our
own now"
| At this moment a tall. massive fig-
ure stepped from the pilot house OF the
pursuing tug and shook It's fists at US.
/ The huge bulk, the VOLTAGE, just dis
tinguishable, distorted, dark with rage
and passion, stopped the blood and !
felt a faintness as Of dropping from a
| height
"Doddridge Knapp" cried.
Mrs. Knapp looked at me in alarm
and grasped the rail.
"Nol mol" she exclaimed, "a thou
sand times mol That Is Elijah Lanel"
/ gazed at her in wonder. Not Dodd-
ridge Knapp Had my eyes played me
false?
do you not understand" she said
! in a low, intense tone. HE is Elijah
I Lane, the father OF the boy. An evil,
wicked man-mad-trily mad. He
would kill the boy. He killed the
mother OF the boy. I know, but IL is
not a case for proof-not a case that
the law can touch. And he hates the
boy-and mel"
"But why does he want TO kill him? ?"
'You do not understand. The boy
inherits a great fortune from his
mother. Mr.. Knapp and l are left
trustees by the mothers will. II he
had control OF the boy. the boy would
| die; but II would be from cruelty. dis
ease, neglect. It would not be murder
IN the eye OF the law. But l know
what would happen. oh, see the
wretch How he hates mel"
was stunned with the words I had
heard. They made much plain that
had puzzled me, yet they left much
more in darkness; and looked blank
ly at the figure on the other tug. 1t
was truly a strange sight The man
was beside himself with rage. shout
ing, gesticulating and leaping about
the deck in transports Of passion. He
showed every mark OF q maniac.
Suddenly he drew revolver and
sent shot after shot In our direction.
We were far beyond the reach OF a
pistol bullet, but Mrs. Knapp screamed
and lodged.
How he hates mel" she cried
again.
When the last shot was gone from
his revolver the man flung the weapon
In frenzy. as though he could hope to
strike US thus.
Then a strange thing happened.
whether due to the effort he had made
In the throw, or to lurch OF the tug
In the waves we left behind us, or to
a stumble over some obstruction. !
could not say. But we saw the man
suddenly pitch forward over the low
bulwarks Of the tug into the waters Of
the bay.
Mrs. Knapp gave a scream and cov-
cred her eyes.
stop the boatl" shouted. Back
heri"
The other tug had checked its head
way at the same time, and there was a
line of six or sewn men along Its side.
There he isl" cried one.
The Body Merely Machine.