The San Francisco call., 1910-06-05

WHUIGU UUt
took up his assigned task, II not with
willingness, with alacrity. Like
shadows, four boys slipped across the
deck and dropped into the tender.
Grant, himself took the oars and his
experience as O listener made him an
extremely careful oarsman He chose.
the darkest shadow of the little cove
for landing, and Stub started back for
the schooner, warned against any noise
or delay. Red, Hen and One waited
until the boat reached the schooner
and they saw it start off again for the
mainland, then taking rifle and shot
gun they crawled up the beach TO
where the bushes and scrub oak began
Off to the right was a sound of break
ing in the brush The boys stock stock
still and scarcely breathed Suddenly
a light shone among the trees, not %
yards away. A lantern had been lighted,
and they could see the dark shadow OF
a man pulling the bushes aside and
digging into the leaves and mold with
his hands Seemingly satisfied he set
the light down beside him and unrolled
a blanket which he spread on the
ground, One by one he took from the
opening which he had uncovered vari-
GUS articles that gave forth the click
of metal against metal as he placed
them upon the blanket.
He's going to finish before the po
lice come" whispered Grant. You boys
stay here and watch him. When he
starts for his boat, give your owl call
three times" and One slipped away
into the dark.
Making no noise, One reached the
beach and ran swiftly along it until
he found the skiff. Anxiously he lis
tened for the sound of oars coming
from Redwood, then with a strong
shove he drove the boat off into deep
water. Immediately came Reds warn
ing-"hoo- hoo hoot." Grant ran to the
brush and dove into the shadows. In
a moment the man came into view,
staggering under his load. When he
saw the skiff gone he stopped abruptly
and looked back into the scrub. Grant
saw him pull revolver and drop his
hand at his side ready to fire. Behind
Grant the twigs cracked and he knew
the boys were making their way 70
him The man had heard too. He
turned like flash with revolver raised,
listened moment. then picking up the
bundle, ran in the opposite direction
down the beach.
Here, boys, quicki" cried Grant, I'VE
must keep him in sight every minute
or he will make away with the plant.
Get into the shadow gaSped Hen
"he's going to shoot"
The man had paused and was look
ing back. AS the boys disappeared ne
ran up into the bushes and they heard
him making his way through them
Creep around behind there. Red. with
the rifle" commanded Grant and II he
tries to get away shoot MN. be care
full" There were minutes of silence
broken by the puff, puff of launch
which the boys knew was help from
the shore The man heard the SOUND
and guessed, for suddenly he jumped
from cover and ran for the island IN
terror. There was the crack of Reds
rifle, followed by two more shots ana
the crash of a fall.
"Ahoy, ashore! Hi, One, are you
there?" were the halls from the launch
as it pulled up close to the beach. Hen
ran to it as four men, two In police
uniforms, waded ashore. Wheres
your MANI" they asked.
Hes wounded, I guess, up there in
the brush
They all moved up the beach close to
the scrub and the officer in command
shouted, Hello, in there NO answer
came from the man. "We are officers
Of the law" the policeman continued
I'VE demand your surrender in the
name of the law. Come out or we will
ecome in and get YOU"
II can't come out; the kids crippled
me. Come get me- give myself up"
Directed by his voice they found him
lying with a bullet through his leg, and
carried him down to the launch, while
Red brought along the heavily loaded
blanket. Holding a dark lantern so
that the light shone full upon his face
the policeman inspected his prisoner
carefully. "You are Alex Andran. all
right, my hearty" said the one in COM
mand. No one could mistake that nose,
even If it wasn't for the prison hair
cut. This is a pretty good pickup,
boys"
"Yes," Grant answered "and unless I
am much mistaken. in that pack is the
evidence that will convict Queer Sny-
der and Razors' Kenny. See if it doesn't
contain counterfeiting plant"
They opened it and found the dies
and tools.
"You guess right, lad. will take
Alex and the plunder TO the Jail and
notify the feds that we've got their lost
one, and you boys come over in the
mnrning and tell YOur storX 10 Tie