The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-08-19
Seeking the Stolen Service
By T. S. STRIBLING

the plate was not to be found. Fully
five minutes they spent ransacking
the launch. but to no avail.
did they throw it overheard? ask
ed Westlake.
The girl shrugged her shoulder. Il
can't see what they did with it,
Returning to the Lance, the two sat
down. perhaps they divided it up
and ran of with it that way" sug-
gested Westlake.
The girls lips trembled. "Oh,
M'sieu, that service has been in our
family for hundreds and hundreds of
years. Long ago, Napoleon created
Berlachaux Duke, and among other
things gave him that service, and now
1t will be melted up-by thieves" The
girl dropped her arms Imply on the
Lance's leather cushions. tears spark
led in her black eyes.
ugh, look at those fellows whis.
pered the girl. "They look so mean.
Don't 60 to the launch after all. Push
of the boat and let's go home"
Westlake arose, went to the prov of
his boat which had run some little
distance out on the slanting wharf,
bent over it and began lifting and
pushing it back into the water.
"Sit on the very back seat" he
called to the girl. THAT will help
me-"
She moved to the place indicated,
and he lifted at the Prov again.
Suddenly Olympic shrieked and i'm
mediately the two rufflians fell on the
young fellow, choking and kicking
him.
Westlake fought back viciously.
Throwing up an arm, he caught a
strangle hold on one of the dirty necks
and clamped down on it with all the
strength of trained athlete. The fel-
low gurgled for a moment, pulled at
his imprisoned head; then his body
limpened. Westlake felt sharp sting
in his back: following that came a
dull heavy thwack.
His assailants were suddenly free
He felt Olypmie's arms about him pull
ing at him. Jump in! Jump in!
Hurry! Oh, you're cut!"
He scrambled into the boat, which
his exertions had loosened and they
f1oated out. The two men lay in a
loose pile on the wharf, one-half
strangled, the other insensible from a
blow dealt with the butt of the rife.
Mechanically, Westlake went back
and started up the engine you hit
him? he asked turning to the girl
He would have killed me-"
She touched his shoulder impulsive-
ly. II don't care two straws about
that plate. You must let me fix your
shoulder. you'll bleed to death before
l can get you to hospital"
But what made those idiots attack
me in my own boat?" queried West
lake puzzled. 1T was the most un-
called-for assault ever heard Of"
"They are low, mean men. Have
you any soft old cloth that l can stop
that bleeding with?"
Westlake laughed. If you will
bind me up, you'll find some under the
rear seat"
Olympic hurried back for the cloth.
"Get of your coat" she called, as
she went
Once more the Lance was approach
ing it's old moorings. All at once.
from the rear Of the boat. Olympic
gave a wild shrek.
Westlake jerked around, utterly
startled. whats the matter now?
But sight of her was sufficient. In
each hand she held a big golden sal
yer. "The Dukes Service!" she cried.
Here it is under the rear seat in your
own boat"
Westlake stared, dumbfounded.
What does it mean? Did 1 steal it?'
Suddenly the girl began half to
laugh. half to cry. "Oh. to think, to
Think" Then becoming serious she
said, Il know. We were so close on
them, they thought the police would
catch them, SO they hid it in the first
convenient place they found-which
was your launch. They intended to
come back after it, but we chased
SAOAA Al SAo VCAy OOoI tu0y u6CU HI q
hiding place."
Westlake stared in amazement
That's why they stopped to shoot at
us. and why they came back to at.
tack me-"
Sure, that's it." Suddenly her mood
changed. But you poor, poor boy, ]
wish they had kept the old stuff.''
"Pshaw, that doesn't amount to
much"
1T does, indeed. The whole value
of this plate doesn't repay me TO,
having made you suffer-" She shook
her pretty head sadly.
You can make it even some other
way, perhaps?"
What Is it," she glanced at him.
"You are not married, are you. O,
engaged?"
She colored swiftly and scrutinized
the golden plate on her knee. I'm
not-but don't see what that has te
do with IT,
| Why Doctors Bear Charmed Lives.
The reason doctors do not catch
! disease Is because thew never thlnh