The Washington times., 1909-11-13

Get in. Miss Tullis. There! Now, push
OF. Newport"
What the devil began Newport.
but King silenced him. The boat slow
~ drifted cut into the current.
Now. row. he commanded With his
free hand he reached back and dragged
the limp Brutus into the boat. Cad,
believe he's dead" he muttered.
For five minutes the surly Osrsmen
pulled away, headed in the direction
from which they came.
can you swim?" demanded King.
Not a stroke" gasped Newport.
dump US overheard. It's ten feet deep
along here
pull on your left, hard. That's right.
I'm going to land you on the opposite
shore and then bid you a cheerful good
night"
Two minutes laSer they ran up under
the western bank of the stream. which
at this point was full 800 yards wide.
The nearest bridge was mile and
half away and habitations were scarce,
as he well knew. Under cover of the
deadly revolver the two men dropped into
the water, which was above their waists:
the limp form Of Peter Brutus was
pulled out and transferred to the Shout
ders of his companions.
Goodnight, called out Truxton King,
eheerily. He had grasped the oars; the
little boat leaped of into the night, leay-
ing the curslng desperadoes waist deep
in the chilly waters.
''See you later" sang out Newport,
with sudden humor.
Wen go SOUTH" said Truxton King
to the girl, who sat in the stern. clutch
the sides of she boat with tense fingers
Il don't know just where Wen land, but
1t won't be up in Devils Path. you may
rest. assured of that. Pardon me if 1 do
not indulge IN small talk and bon mots;
I'm going 10 be otherwise employed for
some time. Miss Tullis. Do you know
the river very well?"
"Not at all" she replied. 81 only
know that the barge docks are below
here somewhere. I'm sure we can get
into the city If we ind the docks. Let
me take the oars, too, Mr.. King. Il
can row.
NO. Please sit where you are and
keep your eyes ahead. Car you see
where we're going?"
81 can see the lights. We're in mid
stream. 7 think. It's so very dark
and the wind is coming up in a gale.
lists going to storm. Don't you
think we'd better try for q landing
along the waIls9 They say the river
is very treacherous.' She was tremb-
ling like a leaf.
"Pu row over 20 the east side, but
don't like to get too close to the
walls. Some one may have heard the
shouts Of our friends back there"
Not another word passed between
them for ten OF twelve minutes. She
peered anxiousiy ahead, looking for
signs of the barge dock. which lay
somewhere along this section of the
city wall. In time, of course, the
marOoned desperadoes might be ex-
peeted to find q way TO pursue them,
or. at least, to alarm watchfuI con-
federates on the city side of the river.
II was tense. anxious quarter OF
an hour for the liberated pair So
near TO absolute safety, and yet so
utterly in the dark as TO what the
next moment might deveIop-weai or
woe.
a last the sound OF rapidly working
roWlocks came to the girls ears. Thew
were slipping along in the dense
as little noise as possible and con-
stantly on the lookout for the long,
low dock.
They're after US" grated Truxton
friends one way or another. By Jovei
L m nearly tagged, too, 1 can't puu
much farther. Helloi What's thfs?T
The side o. the boat caromed OF a
solid object IN the water, almost sniT-
ing them into the wind-blovvn river.
The docksi" she whispered. 1--WE
struck smah scows I think. Can YOU
ma your way in among the coal
barges ?"
He padded along slowly, feeling biz
way, scraping alongside the big barees
which delivered coal from the distant
mines 10 the docks along the river
LroRL A. last ne found an opening and
pushed through. A moment later thew
were riding under the stern of a. broad.
oargoless barge, plum up against the
WaleT-lapped piles Of the dock
Standlng IN the bow Of the boat he