The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1910-07-21

customed eye, the Creole children
plashing in the surface sewage. the
rough uneven cobbles. the quaint,
weather-beaten houses with their
grilled iron work. the babel of strange
tongues.
AS he was about to turn away to his
cruising launch at the foot Of the
street, there was a sudden disturbance
among the playing children. Three
rough men, carrying bag, burst up
the street at full tilt, while behind
them, shrieking. pursued a young
woman.
When she came even with the young
man, she paused for an instant. Help
me, M'sieu!" she painted.
Whats the matter?"
She threw up her arms in an ex'
travagant Creole gesture. "They have
stolen the dukes service!" Then, as
If despairing his aid, she started once
more to run after the now distant
men. -..
The accusation sounded formidable
enough to Westlake, who likewise fell
into a quick run and was presently
beside the girl once more. She glanced
around and saw who it was. Find a
policeman" the girl gasped. BY the
time they gained the water front the
three men were disappearing behind
the piled-up freight on the wharf. A
policeman was standing near.
"Help!-thieves! cried the girl.
Follow us!" roared Westlake as he
plunged on with his pretty burden
after the vanishing men. The officer,
an active fellow, broke into a long,
running stride. The three reached the
rim of the wharf together. The rob-
bers were well out in the river in a
launch.
. Halt" from the blue coat, drawing
a revolver.
The men in the launch continued
straight on; one of them also drew a
pistol. Both guns fred simultaneous
ly. A bit of lead clipped viciously
near Westlake's ear.
81 have a launch" exclaimed the
young man; lets get in that"
"You keep in sight of them in your
launch" planned the bluecoat. land
I'll run up here after the patrol boat
it's the fastest thing on the river"
"And your" Westlake turned to the
girl.
Make haste to your boat, Msieu,"
selling his arm and pushing him for
ward.
The Lance, IN which Westlake was
making his Mississippi river tour, lay
Just below them, at the docks. The
two hurried down into the slim little
cruiser, cast off hurriedly, and swung
into the yellow current. -
Take the wheel while I start the
engine" ordered Westlake. The girl
obeyed, and the Lance began to glide
with accelerating speed after the fee.
ing men.
The Lance proved to be by far the
better boat Of the two. She skinned
through the fleet of anchored mer-
chantmen, lodged in and out, escaped
the putting deep-bellied tugs, and
chung tenaciously to the lodging trail
of the launch.
What Is the dukes service, any.
way?" asked Westlake close to the
girls ear.
"a table service made Of gold," she
explained, turning her head FROM the
beating wind, worth about thirty
thousand. 1t has long history, too
II hope we'll get it back-West
lakes my name. What's yours?"
The girl flashed a smile at him
Olympic Berlachaux-I wish the pa
troll boat would come on: we shall
soon be right up on the men,"
They were not more than seventy-five
yards distant from the fugitives when
suddenly one of the men in a blue
Jumper turned and opened fire on the
Lance with his revolver. The ball
splashed water about ten feet from
the Lance's prov.
The girl laughed excitedly. why
didn't l think of 1t before-Tm going
to cripple their engine" She shifted
herself for shooting, raised the rife
up to her flushed cheek, glanced down
the barrel and fired.
They saw the bullet strike, close to
the launch's water line.
"The boat shakes so, It threw me
off," she explained earnestly. you
try" handing the weapon to Westlake
Z. Suddenly the launch paused, swung
about broadside and all three men be-
gan fusillader on the Lance. The bull
let's came whistling through the low
canvas cabin.
Check her!" cried Olympic. Our
rifle will hold true at distance and
their pistols won't"
Westlake hurried 70 the engine and
did as he was told. Olympic crouched
in the PROV and began to fire on the
men. .....
What are they stopping to fight
fort" asked Westlake. That's q fool
ish thing for them to do"
Perhaps hit their engine"
Westlake was ramming a buchshot
shell into his other gun when he heard
behind him the swift puttering of an
other launch. 1t was the patrol, and
the thieves turned on their speed once
more and drove their launch straight
into the bank. The three men leaped
cut and climbed up the sloping wharf
just as the Lance and patrol dashed
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