The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-03-12
where In the swift stream beneath they
saw the lights from Macs tug.

instructions. to which he nodded ac-
auiescence. They bade the lawyer
adieu. and the little craft s!iopel It's
mooringS. danced down the current.
across the bar and was swallowed up
in the darkness to seaward.
"Ill put out Wheaton's light SO
they'll think he's gone to bed"
Yes. and at daylight I'll take your
place in McNamara's loft" said Glen
ister. There will be doings tomorrow
when they don't find him.
They returned by the way they had
come to the lawyers room. extinsuish-
ed his light. went to their own cabin
and to bed. At dawn Glenister arose
and sought his place above McNa-
mara's Office.
To lie stretched at length Oh a sin
gle plank with eye glued to crack Is
not a comfortable position. and the
watcher thought the hours Of the next
day would never end. AS they drag
ged wearily past his bones began to
ache beyond endurance. yet owing 70
the himsy structure Of the building ne
dared not move while the room below
was tenanted. In fact he would not
have stirred had he dared. SO intense
was his interest In the scenes being
enacted beneath him.
First had come the marshal, who re-
ported his failure to fnd Wheaton.
"He left his room some time last
night Ny men followed him in and
saw a light in his window until
O'Clock this morning. At O'CLOCK we
broke in, and he was gone"
HE must have got wind Of our plan.
Send deputies aboard the Santa Maria.
Search her from keel to topmast. and
have them watch the beach close or
he'll nut OF In a small boat. You look
over the passengers that 60 aboard
yourself. Don't trust any Of your men
for that, because he may try to slip
through disguised. He's liable to make
I'D like a woman. You understand
there's only one ship in port. and-he
mustn't get away"
"He won't" said voorhees,. with con-
viction, and the listener overhead
smiled grimly to himself, for at that
moment, twenty miles offshore, lay
Macs little tug. hove to In the track OF
the outgoing steamship. and in her tiny
cabin sat Bill Wheaton eating break
fast.
As the morning wore by with no
news Of the lawyer, McNamara's un'
easiness grew. At noon the marshal
returned with a report that the pas
sengers were all aboard and the ship
about to clear.
by heavens! He's slipped through
you," stormed the politician.
mo, be hasn't. He may be hidden
aboard somewhere among the coal
| bunkers, but think he's still ashore
and aiming to make quick run just
before she sails He hasn't left the
beach since daylight, that's sure. I'm
going out to the ship now with four
men and search her again. II we don't
bring him of. you can bet he's lying
out somewhere In town, and We'll get
him later. I've stationed men along
the shore for two miles"
"I won't have him get away. II he
should reach Frisco Tell your men
I'll give $500 to the one that finds
him"
Three hours later Voorhees, returned.
"She sailed without him."
The politician cursed. 81 don't be-
lieve it. He tricked you. l know he
did"
Glenster grlnned into a half eaten
sandwich, then turned upon his back
and lay thus on the plank. identifying
the speakers below by their voices.
He kept his post all day. Later in
the evening he heard Struve enter.
The man had been drinking.
$50 he got away. eh?" he began. 81
was afraid he would. Smart fellow.
that Wheaton"
"He didn't get away" said McNa-
mara. Hes in town yet. Just let me
land him in jail on some excuse! I'll
hold him till snow files" Struve sank
into a chair and lit cigarette with
wavering hand.
This s hell Of game, amt 1t.
Mac? D. you s'pose We'll win?
The man overhead pricked up his
ears.
"Win! Aren't we winning? What
do you call this? only hope we can
lay hands on Wheaton. He knows
things. A little knowledge Is a dam
gerous thing. but more Is worse. Lord!
II only I had man for judge in place
Of Stillman! don't know why
brought him."
That's right. Too weak. He hasn't
got the backbone Of an angleworm.
He amt half the man that his niece Is.
There's girl for you! Say, what d
we do without her, eh? She's pippin"
Glenister felt a sudden Tightening Of
every muscle. What right had that
mans liquor sodden lips to speak so Of
her?
"She's a brave little woman all right.
Just look how she worked Glenister
and his fool partner. 1t took nerve to
bring In those instructions Of yours