The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-31
Copyright. 1910. by Louis Joseph Vance,
CHAPTER XII.

ing was still young) the Echo rode at
anchor in Quick's Hole, On the edge of
the navigable channel, near the Ma
shawena shore, about midway OF the
passage between Vineyard Sound and
Buzzard's Bay; and within ten min
utes Of the time her anchor splashed
over her bows, Mr. Appleyard, his
plans formulated and communicated
to Mr.. Coast, was noisily asleep in
the cabin-enjoying rest which
Coast, for all his own WEAKNESS OF
body and mind, coald not begrudge
him
For six hours the younger man
stood a lonely watch, companioned
only by the melancholy voice Of the
bell buoy Off the southern entrance,
a sound, the most forlorn and dreary
known to man, which came fitfully to
his earns in the occasional lulling of
the wind.
AS six bells sounded Appleyard
hoped on deck, yawning and rubbing
his eyes, but with a light in the lat
ter, as soon as he permitted them to
be seen, and a spr1nginess In his
movements which testified to the re-
freshing soundness Of his slumbers.
"Howdy?" he chirruped. Nothing
alarming turned up, eh?"
Not thing" said Coast.
Good enough Don't look for 'em
till evening. When'd this lull set tn?"
Coast informed him. That's all
right; fit in with their plans; they'd
rather make a landing in the dark,
anyway"
What difference would that
make-?"
Not much; only the fewer boats
touching at No Mans Land, the less
attention attracted. s'pose you
know there's a life saving station on
Gay Head? Sure; and part of It's job
Is to keep a list OF everything that
passes by, from a rowboat to coast
wise liner"
s"Of course; bullock here, Apple
yard" Coast paused, doubt tinting
MS tone.
'Sir, to your"
There's one thing been troubling
me. 1t seems to me we're taking a
lot for granted, Of course, to begin
with, 1 was only too keen to believe
the worst of Blackstock. But, serious
ly, what warrant have you for believ-
Ing he's mixed up with this smuggling
game?"
Appleyard rubbed his nose refiec-
lively. Well" he drawled, grinning,
Il haven't got any sure'nough good
excuse. I admit. I just know it's so.
That's all"
But
whats Blackstock sticking out
there for? Not because he likes 1t,
you can bet; not solely because he's
afraid OF getting caught-for he set
tied on No Mans Land before Dun
das come through with his confes-
sion; not because he would be safer
in some corner of the world across
the water
II told you his wife said"
She said precisely what he told
her. Naturally. Probably believes it.
Rot! The real reason Is the
reason why he dropped his remit
tances to Dundas; because he's broke,
| and down, and desperate-ready to
turn his hand to anything to earn
dishonest dollar And this jobs ideal
for his purposes" Appleyard wound
| up triumphantly.
But" Coast argued, "she has
money.
How do you know"
cat least, her aunt had, and it was
to go to her"
But did it? I'll lay you a hand
| some wager that either she never go'
! it or 1t wasn't much anyway and
Blackstock managed to run through
| 1t with the customary facility Of
| scoundrels of his class.
Don't talk to me: tell you, know 9
| lot of things for certain that I don't
know for sure: and this Is one OF
'em. And now If you'll just
kindly quit finding fault with my IN
| Improbable management Of this af
fair, and duck below and pound your
ear for a couple of hours, or until
call you, you'll be in much better
shape for what's before you this
| night
Coast, soothed by the swash OF
waves and the softly modulated toll
| ing Of the distant buoy, presently
dozed off; nor did he wake until Ap
pleyard shook his shoulder severa
| hours later.
He started up in some perturbation
with that singular futter of the
| heart that men sometimes waken Il
| face a crucial hour
| "Well-?' he asked, half dazed.
Time" returned Appleyard coolly
They're just about to stand In ROUND
Lone Rock. Come on deck"
His small head and narrow shout
ders were momentarily silhouettee
against violet-shaded square Of sky
| that filed the companion opening
| tnen disappeared. Coast, realizing
from the twilight within and withou
that the hour was late, followed witt
expedition.
What's o'clock?" he asked as h,
stepped on deck.
| About seven. Take the wheel
Appleyard dropped lightly into the
| engine-pit as Coast obedienuy moved
to the stern and grasped the spokes
| His first glance was comprehensive
summing up the situation In a single
cast; he was now fully awake anG
| very alert.
With a mufled cough the motor be
gan to throb and drum. The Echo
| ho~ n-S