Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-01-10

the sun Slantc0 up DetWeel
the southwark hills out from
n the gossamer haze that lay
~ like filmy forest smoke above
the ocean came snow white yacht.
To Boyd Emerson she seemed like ar
angel Of mercy. and he stood forth
upon the deck of his launch searching
her hungrily for the sight Of wo.
mans figure. When he had first seen
the ship rounding the point he had
uttered cry. then fallen silent watch
ing her as she drew near. needless of
his surroundings. His heart was leap.
ing: his breath was choking him. II
seemed as II he must shout Mildred
name aloud and stretch his arms out
to her. OF course she would see him
as the Grande Dame passed. She would
be looking for him. he knew She
would be standing 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 sudden panic
lest she pass him unnoticed. he order
ed his launch near the yachts course
His eyes roved over the craft. but all
he saw were uniformed officer upon
the bridge and the bronzed faces Of
the watch staring over the rail. He
saw close drawn curtains over the cab
In windows. indicating that the passen.
gers were still asleep. Then as he
stood there heavy hearted. dropping
with fatigue. his wet body chilled by
the mornings breath. the Grqnde
Dame glided past. and he found the
shell beneath his feet rocking In her
wake.
George Bait hailed him and brought
his own launch alongside.
"What craft is thaty' he inquired.
"She IS the company's yacht with
the N. A. p. A. officers aboard"
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"
I'VE all need breakfast"
Il don't want nothing. I'm going
over to the trap"
Emerson shrugged his shoulders list
lessly: he was very tired. "What is
the use? 1t won't pay us to lift It,"
give watched that point Of land for
five years. and l never seen fish act
this way before" Bait growled stub
bornly. 'If they don't strike in to-
day we better close down. Marsh's men
cut half our nets and crippled more
than half our crew last night" He be-
gan to rumble curses. "Say, we made
a mistake the other day. didn't we?
We'd ought to have put that Teller
away. 1t amt too late yet"
wait. Wayne Wayland is aboard
that yacht. l know him. He's hard
man. and I've heard strange stories
about him. but don't believe he
knows all that Marsh has been doing.
I'm going to see him and tell him
"S'pose he turns you DOWN."
Then there will be time enough to-
% consider what you suggest | don't
Ike to think about It,"
you don't have to-" said Bait. low.
ering his voice so that the heImsluen
could not hear. i've been thinking 1t
over all night. and 1t looks like Id
ought to do it myself Marsh is COM
ing to me anyhow. and-I'm older than
you be. 1t amt right for Il young fell
Ter like you to take IL chance. If they
get me you can run the business
alone"
Boyd laid his hand on his compan-
Ions shoulder.
mo" he said. perhaps l wouldn't
stick at murGer-l don't know. But l
won't profit by another mans crime.
md If 1t comes to that III take my
share of the risk and the guilt. What
ever you do. I stand with you. But
we'll hope for better things It's no
easy thing for ME to go to Mr.. Way
land asking favor. You see. his
laughter is Well. IL want to see
her very badly"
Bait eyed him shrewdly
II see! And that makes 1t dead
wrong for you to take hand. If it's
necessary to get Marsh I'll do 1t alone
With him out of the way l think you
an make go of it. He's like n rat
ler-somebody's got to stomp on him
Vow I'm off for the trap. Let ME
now what the old man says"
Boyd returned to the cannery with
he old mood Of self disgust and bitter
less heavy upon him. He realized that
Georges offer to commit murder had
lot shocked him as much as upon its
rst mention. He knew that he hid
bought Of shedding human blood with
8 little compunction as II the intend.
d victim had been some noxious ami
nal. He felt. indeed. that II his love
or Mildred made him a criminal she.
20. would be soiled by his dishonor.
nd for her sake he shrank from the
lea Of violence. yet he lacked the
nergy at that time to put 1t from him.
Veil. he would go to her father. hum {
lie himself and beg for protection. II
g failed then Marsh must look out for
imself. He could not find 1t in his
cart to spare his enemy.
At the plant he found Alton Clyde
excited ut the arrival Of
he yacht and eager tovisit his friends.
|e sent him to the launch and after
hasty breakfast Joined him.
On their way out Boyd felt return
that misgiving which had mastered
i'm on his first meeting with Mildred
Chicago. For the second time he I
as bringing her failure instead of the {
victory.
Willis Marsh was ahead Of him,
anding with Mr.. Wayland Mt the rail. G