The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-08-19

Down on Decatur street, near the
wharf, Westlake stood indolently oh.
serving the old French quarter. 1t
was all very attractive to his unac-
customed eye, the Creole children
FLASHING in the surface sewage, the
rough uneven cobbles, the quaint,
weather-beaten houses with their
gr1lled iron work. the babel of strange
tongues.
AS he was about to turn away to his
cruising launch at the foot Of the
street, there was sudden disturbance
among the playing children. Three
rough men, carrying bag, burst up
the street at full tilt, while behind
them, shrieking. pursued q young
woman.
When she came even with the young
man, she paused for an instant. Help
me, M'sieu!" she painted.
whats the matter?"
She threw up her arms in an eX.
travagant Creole gesture. "They have
stolen the dukes service!" Then, as
If despairing his aid, she started once
more to run after the now distant
men.
The accusation sounded formidable
enough to Westlake, who likewise fell
into quick run and was presently
beside the girl once more She glanced
around and saw who it was Find a
policeman" the girl gasped. By the
time they gained the water front the
three men were disappearing behind
the piled-up freight on the wharf. A
policeman was standing near.
"Help!-thieves!" cried the girl.
Follow u.s." roared Westlake as he
plunged on with his pretty burden
after the vanishing men. The officer
an active fellow, broke into long
running stride. The three reached the
rim Of the wharf together. The rob
bers were we'll out in the river in 8
launch
Halt" from the blue coat, drawing
a revolver.
The men in the launch continued
straight on; one Of them also drew q
pistol. Both guns fired simultaneous
ly. A bit Of lead clipped viciously
near Westlake's ear.
II have launch" exclaimed the
young man; lets get in that"
you keep in sight of them in you,
launch" planned the bluecoat, land
I'll run up here after the patrol boat
it's the fastest thing on the river"
And your" Westlake turned to the
girl.
Make haste to your boat, M'sieu,
Selling his arm and pushing him for
ward.
The Lance, in which Westlake wat
making his Mississippi river tour, lay
just below them, at the docks. The
two hurried down into the slim little
cruiser, cast of hurriedly. and swung
into the yellow current.
Take the wheel while I start the
engine" ordered Westlake. The girl
obeyed, and the Lance began to glide
with accelerating speed after the fee
ing men.
The Lance proved to be by far the
better boat of the two. She skinned
through the fleet of anchored mer
chantmen, lodged In and out, escaped
the putting deep-bellied tugs. ant
chung tenaciously to the lodging trai
of the launch.
What is the dukes service, any
way?" asked Westlake close to thu
girls ear.
"A table service made of gold," sh<
explained, turning her head from thu
beating wind, worth about thirt,
thousand. 1t has long history, too.
II hope We'll get it back-West
lakes my name. What's yours?"
The girl flashed a smile at him
"Olympie Berlachaux-1 wish the pa
troll boat would come on; we shall
soon be right up on the men,"
They were not more than seventy-f1v,
yards distant from the fugitives whe1
suddenly one of the men in a blu,
jumper turned and opened fire on tn,
Lance with his revolver. The bal
splashed water about ten feet iron
the Lance's PROV.
The girl laughed excitedly. "Wh.
didn't think of it before-I'm goinl
to cripple their engine" She shiftel
herself for shooting, raised the rid,
up to her flushed cheek, glanced dow
the barrel and fired.
They saw the bullet strike, close t.
the launch's water line.
The boat shakes so, it threw m,
off," she explained earnestly. "Yo,
try" handing the weapon to Westlake
Suddenly the launch paused, swung
about broadside and all three men be
gan fusillade on the Lance. The bu]
let's came whistling through the loy
canvas cabin.
CHECK her!" cried Olympic. "Ou
rifle will hold true at a distance an
their pistols won't"
Westlake hurried to the engine an
did as he was told. Olympic crouche
in the Prov and began to fire on tn
men.
What are they stopping to flgh
for?' asked Westlake. That's a foo
1sh thing for them to do"
"Perhaps I hit their engine.'
Westlake was ramming q bucksho
shell into his other 4ln when he hear