The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1910-12-30

straits III be SatlSneG.
"What will happen to FraserY she
queried.
Nothing serious, 1 am sure You
see, they wanted me and nobody else.
Once they find they have the wrong
man I rather believe they will free
him in disgust"
A moment later he went on: Gust
the same, it makes me feel depressed
and guilty to leave him. II wouldn't
desert comrade for anything If the
choice lay with me-"
"You did quite right" Cherry warm
ly assured him.
"You see, am not working for my
self. am doing this for another"
1t was the girls turn to sigh softly,
while the eyes she turned toward the
west were strangely sad and dreamy.
1.-TWO hours more" he told her as
the ships bell sounded, "then I can
eat and sleep-and sing"
Captain Peasley was pacing the
bridge when later they breasted the
glare of Port Townsend and saw in
the distance the flashing searchlights
of the forts that guard the straits.
They saw him stop suddenly and
raise his night glasses. Boyd laid his
hand on Cherry's arm. Presently the
captain crossed to them and said:
'Yonder seems to be a launch max
ing out. See! wonder what's up.
By Jove! They're signaling"
The two boats We're drawing together
rapidly, and soon those on the bridge
heard the faint but increasing patter
of gasoline exhaust. Carrying the
same speed as the Bedford Castle, the
launch shortly came within hailing
distance. The cyclopean eye of the
ships searchl;ght blazed up, and the
next instant out from the gloom
leaped little craft. on the deck Of
which a man stood waving lantern.
She held steadfastly to her course, and
a voice floated up to them:
"Ahoy! What ship?"
"The Bedford Castle. cannery tender.
for Bristol bay" Peasley shouted
back.
The man on the launch relinquished
his lantern and, using both palms for
a funnel, cried more clearly now:
"Heave to! We want to come
aboard"
With an exclamation Of impatience
the commanding officer stepped to the
telegraph, but Emerson forestalled
him.
"Wait. They're after me, captain; it.
the Port Townsend police, and if you
let them aboard they'll take me Off"
Turning, the skipper beloved:
"Who are you"
"Police!
"What did tell your cried Emer-
! son.
"What do you wantT'
Zone of your passengers-Emerson
Heave to. You're passing u.s."
'"That's bloody hard luck, Mr.. Emer-
son; can't help myself" the captain
declared. But again Boyd blocked him
| as he. started for the telegraph.
II won't stand 1t, sir. It's con-
| spiracy to ruin me-"
"But, my dear young man.
"Don't touch that Instrument
From the launch came cries of grow
ing vehemence, and a startled murmur
Of voices rose from somewhere in the
darkness Of the deck beneath.
"Stand asidew Peasley ordered gruff-
| ly. But the other held his ground,
saying quietly:
81 warn you. am desperate"
"Shall 1 stop her, sir?" the quarter
master asked from the shadows of the
| wheelhouse.
mo" Emerson commanded sharp
| ly, and in the glow from the pinnacle
light they saw he had drawn his re-
| vOlver, while on the instant up from
| the void beneath heaved the massive
figure of Big George Bait, a behemoth,
| more colossal and threatening than
ever in the dim light. He wrenched
open the door and with one sweep Of
his hairy paw flung the helmsman
from his post, painting.
| Keep her going, cap, or III run
them down"
| The launch was abreast of them
now and skimming along so close that
| one might have tossed biscuit aboard
! Va ACA. AhC opoISCA Va IhC SAeAAS oAoA6
side was now punctuated by a volley
Of curses.
| The police launch sheered of, and
the sound Of her exhaust grew rapidly
fainter and fainter. But not until It
had wholly ceased did Big George give
over his post at the wheel. Even then
he went down the ladder reluctantly
and without word of thanks, Of ex.
PLANTATION or Of apology. With him
this had been but a part of the days
work. He saw neither sentiment mol
humor in the episode.
From the crows nest Of the Bedford
Castle a week later the lookout stared
down upon a white expanse thai
stretched beyond the horizon. At dawn
they began their careful search, feeling
their way eastward through the oper
lanes and tortuous passages that sep
arated the foes, now laying to for thu
northward set of the fields to clear &
path before them. now stealing through
some narrow lead that opened int