The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-19

Copyright, 1909, by George
Barr McCutcheon.)
Copyright, 1900, by Douti,
Mead s. Company. Published
Sept, 1900
Goodnight" called out Trux-
ton King cheerily. He had
grasped the oars; the little boat
leaped off into the night, leav-
ing the cursing desperadoes waist.
deep in the chilly water.
"See you later" sang out New.
port, with sudden humor.
We'll go SOUTH" said Truxton
King to the girl who sat in the
stern, clutching the sides of the
boat with tense fingers. ~ don't
know Just where we'll land. but
it won't be up in DEVILS Patch,
you may rest assured of that. Par.
don me IL / do not indulge in
small talk and bonmots: I'm go.
ing to be otherwise employed fol
some time, Miss Tullis. Do you
know the river very well?"
mot at ALL" she replied. 81
only know that the barge docks
are below here somewhere. I'm
sure we can get into the city II
we can find the docks. Let me
take the oars, too, Mr.. King. ]
can row."
"No. Please sit where you are
and keep your eyes ahead. Can
you see where we're going?"
81 can see the lights. We're in
mid-stream, think. It's so very
dark and the wind is coming uI
in a gale. lists going to
storm. Don't you think we'd bet.
ter try for a landing along the
walls? They say the river is very
treacherous." She was trembling
like leaf.
oil row over to the east side
but don't like to get too close
to the walls. Someone may have
heard the shouts of our friends
back there"
Not another word passed be.
tween them for ten or twelve min.
utes. She peered anxiously ahead
looking for signs of the barge
dock, which lay somewhere along
this section of the city wall. In
time, of course, the marooned des-
peradoes might be expected tc
find way to pursue them, or, al
least, to alarm watchful confed-
crates on the city side of the riv.
er. 1t was a tense, anxious quar-.
ter 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
develop-weal or woe.
At least the sound of rapidly
working rowlocks came to the
girls ears. They were slipping
along in the dense blackness be.
meath the walls, making as little
noise as possible and constantly
on the lookout for the long, low
dock.
They're alter u.s." grated
Truxton, in desperation. They've
got word to friends one way OF
another. By Jove! I'm nearly
tagged, too. 1 can't pull much
farther. Hello! What's this?'
The side of the boat caromed
off solid object in the water, al.
most splitting them into the wind.
blown river.
1.-THE docks!" she whispered
"We struck small scow, l think
Can you find your way in among
the coal barges?"
He padded along slowly, feel
ing his way, scraping alongside
the big barges which delivered
coal from the distant mines to
the docks along the river front
At last he found an opening. and
pushed through. A moment later
they were riding under the stern
of a broad, cargoless barge. plumb
up against the water-lapped piles
of the dock.
Standing in the bow of the boat
he managed to pull himself UP
over the slippery edge. It was
the work of a second to draw her
after him. With an oar which he
had thought to remove before
hand, he gave the boat a mighty
shove, sending it out into the
stream once more.
Then, hand In hand, they edged
slowly, carefully along the gravel
strewn dock. between vast piles
of lumber and steep walls of coal
1t was only necessary to find the
railway company's runways lead
ing into the yards above; in time
of peace there was little likeli.
hood that the entrances to the
dock would be closed. even al
night.
LOuu Sul DO llOIh Liz
river, proclaiming the fact that
the pursuers had found the empty
boat. Afterwards they were to
learn that Viewpoints" shouts had
brought boatload of men from
the opposite bank, headed by the
innkeeper, in whose place Lorraine
was to have encountered Mar.
lanx later on, If plans had not
miscarried. She was to have re-
NAMED in this outside inn until
after the sacking of the city on
the following day. The girl
translated one remark that came
up to them from the boatload OF
pursuers:
''The old man is waiting back
fhnro Hail hill tho LOT nf re n