Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-03

with naked nStS, Win oars ana ciuoS,
and when these failed they drove at
one another with wicked one-tined
fish "pues." All night the hordes of sal
mon swarmed upward toward the fatal
waters of their birth, through sagging
nets that were torn and slit; beneath
keels that rocked to the impact OF
struggling, needless bodies.
CHAPTER XIV.
Wherein "The Grande Dame" Arrives,
Laden With Disappointments.
AS the sun slanted up between the
southwark hills, out from the gossamer
haze that lay like filmy forest smoke
above the ocean came snoW-White
yacht. She stole inward past the head
lands, as silent as wrath, leaving q
long, black streamer penciled against
the sky; so still was the dawn that the
breath from her funnel lay like trail
behind her, slowly fading and blend
ing with the colors of the morning.
The waters were cleaning nickel
beneath her Prov, and she Glove them
like blade: against the dove-gray sky
her slender rigging was traced as by
some finely pointed instrument; her
sides were as clean as the stainless
breasts of the gulls that foated near
the shore. :
AS she came proudly up through the
fleet Of f1shing-boats, perfect In every
line and gliding with stately dignity,
the grimy little crafts drew aside as II
in awe, while tired-eyed men stared
silently at her as if at a vision.
To Boyd Emerson she seemed like
an angel Of mercy, and he stood forth
upon the deck Of his launch searching
her hungrily for the sight of woman's
figure. When he had first seen the ship
rounding the point he had uttered
cry, then fallen silent watching her
as she drew near, reedless Of his sur
roundings. His heart was leaping, his
breath choking him. 1t seemed as II he
must shout Mildred's name aloud and
stretch out his arms to her. OF course,
she would see him as The Grande
Dame passed she would be looking
for him, he knew. She would be stand
Ing there, wet with the dew, searching
with all her eyes. Doubtless she had
waited patiently at her post from the
instant land came into sight. Seized by
q sudden panic lest she pass him un-
noticed he ordered his launch near the
yachts course, where he could COM
mand view of her cabin doors and
the wicker chairs upon her deck. HIS
eyes roved over the craft, but all he
saw was uniformed officer upon the
bridge and the bronzed faces of the
watch staring over the rail. BY now
The Grande Dame was so close that
he might have flung line to her, and
above the muffled throbbing of her
engines he heard the captain give
some low-spoken command. Yet no.
where could he catch a glimpse of Mil
bred. He saw close-drawn curtains
over the cabin windows, indicating
that the passengers were still asleep.
Then, as he stood there, heavy-hearted.
dropping with fatigue, his wet body
chilled by the mornings breath, The
Grande Dame glided past, and he
found the shell beneath his feet rock
ing in her wake.
AS he turned shoreward George Bal
hailed him, and brought his own launch
alongside.
what craft is that?" he inquired.
.She is the Company's yacht with
the N. A. P. A. officers aboard"
The big fellow stared curiously after
the retreating ship.
"Some of our boys is hurt pretty
bad he observed. "I've told them to
take in their nets and go back to the
plant"
eve all need breakfast
~ don't want nothing. I'm going
over to the trap"
Emerson shrugged his shoulders
listlessly; he was very tired. What
is the use? 1t won't pay us to lift 1t"
''Ive watched that point of land for
five years and never seen fish act
this way BEFORE" Bait growled stub
bornly. eff they don't strike in today,
we better close down. Marshs men cut
half our nets and crippled more than
half our crew last night" He began
to humble curses. "say! We made a
mistake the other day, didn't we?
We'd ought to have put that Teller
away. It amt too late yet"
wait! Wayne Wayland is aboard
that yacht; know him. He's a hard
man, and I've heard strange stories
about him, but I don't believe he
knows all that Marsh has been doing
I'm going to see him and tell him
everything"
"S'pOse he turns you DOWN.
''Then there will be time enough to
to consider what you suggest. ]
don't like to think about IT.
.You don't have to-" said Bait, lower
ing his voice so the helsman could
not hear. 1--WE been thinking it over
all night, and it looks like I'd ought to
do it myself Marsh is coming to me
anyhow, and-I'm older than you be.
1t amt right for a young Teller like
you to take chance. If they get me,
you can run the business alone"
Boyd laid his hand on his compan-
ions shoulder.
NO. he said perhaps wouldn't
stick at murder don't know. But /
won't profit by another mans crime,
and if it comes to that, I'll take my
share Of the risk and the guilt. What
ever you do, I'll stand with you. But
we'll hope for better things. It's 40
easy thing for me to go to Mr.. Way
land asking a favor. You see, his
daughter is Well, III want to see
her badly"
Bait eyed him shrewdly.
II see! And that makes it dead
wrong for you to take hand. If it's