Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-02-16


them"
What is the iadys manner"
Il can't tell you that"
But the police"
1T isn't matter for the police.
Please trust me, Mr.. Porter"
The life-saver stood irresolute.
IF .his boat is damaged, I'll make
it coed five times over continued
Orme.
"Oh, 1t wouldn't hurt the boat. A
few scratches. perhaps. It's the other
boat Tn thinking Of"
IT'S pretty grim business, know"
remarked Orne
The younger man again studied
Orme's face. Can you give me your
word that the circumstances would
justify us In ramming that boat?"
1t fis shed over orme that he had
no ide,. what those circumstances
were, He knew only what little the
girl hal told him. Yet she had as.
sured linn again and again that the
papers were of the greatest impor-
lance. True, throughout the affair,
thus fla, with the exception of the
blow he had given Maku. the persons
concerned had offered no dangerous
violence. The mysterious papers
might contain Information about
South American mines-as little Pori.
tol had suggested; they might hold
the secl cts of an international syn
dictate Whatever they were, it was
really doubtful whether the necessity
of their recovery would justify the
possibility of staying another man,
PERHAPS the girl had unconsciously
exaggerated their value Women who
took hand In business often lost the
sense OF relative Importance. And
yet, she had been so sure; she had
herself g1ne to such lengths, Then,
too, the South Americans had hired
a burglar to break into her fathers
house, and now this Japanese had
abducted aer. Yes, 1t was u serious
game.
Orme answered Porter Il give you
my word" he said.
Porter nodded and frightened his
lips,
AT the very least, that fellow has
tried to abdrct this young lady" added
Orme.
"All right said Porter. Let her
60"
The other boat had drifted about
so feet away. orme called out:
Hello, there, Japanese, WIN you
give up the papersT
No answer came.
IF you won't" cried orme, we are
going to ram you"
"Oh, mol" exclaimed the girl sud
denly. I'VE mustn't drown him.
I'VE shan't," said Orme. "But we
will give him scare" Then. in a
louder voice: 'Do you hear?"
The only reply was the tapping of
metal on metal, The Japanese, 1t
seemed, was still trying to find out
what was wrong with his motor
well, then" Orme said to Porter,
"we'll have to try 1t. But use low
speed, and be ready to veer off at
the last minute"
He'll try to fend with the boat
hook" said Porter
IF he does, I'll get him"
"How?"
"Lasso" Orme picked up spare
painter that was stored under the
seat, and began to tie slip-noose
The girl now spoke. IL suppose we
shall have to do it." she said, But
wish there were a less dangerous, a
less tragic way"
Hardly knowing what he did, Orme
laid his hand gently on her shoulder,
1T will be all right, dear" he whis-
pered.
If the word embarrassed her, the
darkness covered her confusion
Porter had started the motor, set
ting it at low speed, and now he
was steering the boat in a circle to
gain distance for the charge.
I've lost the other boat exclaimed
Orme, peering into the darkness.
She's off there" said Porter. You
cant see her, but / know the direc-
ton"
He swung the launch around and
headed straight through the night
Hold ON tight" Orme cautioned
the girl, and coiling his lasso. he went
to the bow.
The launch moved steadily forward.
Orme, straining his eyes in the en-
deavor to distinguish the other boat,
saw It at last 1t lay few points to
starboard, and Porter altered the
course of the launch accordingly
Make for the stern" called Orme,
"and cripple her propeller, if you can"
Another slight change in the course
showed that Porter understood.
AS the lessening of the distance be-
tween the two boats made it possible
to distinguish the disabled speeder
more clearly, Orme saw that the Japa-
nese was still tinkering with the mo-
tor. He was busying himself as
though he realized that he had no
hope of escape unless he could start
his beat.
Narrower, narrc@er grew the inter