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

Seeking the Stolen Service
By T. S. STRIBLING

make up that section of New Orleans.
A moment later, both the Lance
and the patrol lay at the wharf. The
officers leaped out and hastily pursued
the thieves.
'M'sieu," cried the girl, did you
notice that the men didn't have the
bag with them when they ran ONT"
That's a fact!" declared Westlake.
"Come on. let's look in their boat
there 1t lies right below the patrol
cutter" -..
Rifle and shot gun still in hand, the
two ran around to the launch. There
was nothing in sight, and Westlake be-
gan pulling up the loose decking. But
the plate was not to be found. Fully
five minutes they spent ransacking
the launch. but to no avail.
did they throw it overheard" ask
ed Westlake.
The girl shrugged her shoulder. 81
can't see what they did with it."
Returning to the Lance, the two sat
down. Perhaps they divided 1t up
and ran of with it that way" sug-
gested Westlake.
The girls lips trembled. "Oh,
Msieu, that service has been in our
family for hundreds and hundreds of
years. Long ago, Napoleon created
Berlachaux Duke, and among other
things gave him that service, and now
it will be melted up-by thieves" The
girl dropped her arms Imply on the
Lance's leather cushions, tears spark.
led in her black eyes.
ugh, look at those fellows" whis.
pered the girl. "They look so mean.
Don't go to the launch after all. Push
off the boat and let's 60 home"
Westlake arose, went to the PROV of
his boat which had run some little
distance out on the slanting wharf,
bent over it and began lifting and
pushing 1t back into the water.
"Sit on the very back seat" he
called to the girl. THAT will help
me-"
She moved to the place indicated,
and he lifted at the PROV again.
Suddenly Olympic shrieked and i'm.
mediately the two rufiians fell on the
young fellow, choking and kicking
him.
Westlake fought back viciously.
Throwing up an arm, he caught
strangle hold on one of the dirty necks
and clamped down on It with all the
strength Of trained athlete. The fel-
low gurgled for q moment, pulled at
his imprisoned head; then his body
limpened. Westlake felt sharp sting
in his back; following that came
dull heavy thwack.
His assailants were suddenly free
He felt Olypmie's arms about him pull.
ing at him. Jump in! Jump in!
Hurry! Oh, you're cut!"
He scrambled into the boat, which
his exertions had loosened and they
fioated out. The two men lay in a
loose pile on the wharf, one-half
strangled, the other insensible from a
blow dealt with the butt Of the rifle.
Mechanically, Westlake went back
and started up the engine. "You hit
him.? he asked turning to the girl.
HE would have killed me-"
She touched his shoulder impulsive.
ly. "T don't care two straws about
that plate. You must let me fix your
shoulder. you'll bleed to death before
can get you to hospital"
"But what made those idiots attack
me in my own boat?" queried West
lake puzzled. 1T was the most un.
called-for assault ever heard Of"
"They are low, mean men. Have
you any soft old cloth that can stop
that bleeding within
Westlake laughed. IF you will
bind me up, you'll find some under the
rear seat"
Olympic hurried back for the cloth.
Get off your coat" she called. as
she went.
Once more the Lance was approach.
ing its old moor'ngs.. All at once,
from the rear Of the boat, Olympic
gave a WILD shrek.
Westlake jerked around, utterly
startled. What's the matter now?'
But a sight of her was sufficient. In
each hand she held a big golden sal.
yer. "The Dukes Service!" she cried.
Here 1t is under the rear seat in your
own boat"
Westlake stared, dumbfounded.
What does 1t mean? Did I steal it?"
Suddenly the girl began half to
laugh, half to cry. ooh, to think, to
think" Then becoming serious she
said, II know. We were so close OH
them, they thought the police would
catch them, so they hid 1t in the first
convenient place they found-which
was your launch. They intended to
come back after 1t, but we chased
them in the very boat they used as n
hiding place."
Westlake stared In amazement.
That's why they stopped to shoot at
us, and why they came back to at.
tack me-"
Sure, that's It," Suddenly her mood
changed. "But you poor, poor boy, I
wish they had kept the old stun"
"Pshaw, that doesn't amount to
much"
TT does, indeed. The whole value
of this plate doesn't repay me for
having made you suffer-" She shook
her pretty head sadly.
You can make IL even Soma othor