The Columbus journal., 1911-02-22

Chicago. probably. She came up an
hour or SO ago-at least. ! suppose
she's the same one"
The explosions were now 50 rapid
as to make almost one continuous
roar.
"She's q fast one. all right" com
mented the life-saver. Hear her go!"
Are there many fast boats ON the
lake?"
Quite q number. They run out
from Chicago harbor now and then.
Orme was meditating.
Exactly how long ago did this
boat pass?"
"Oh. an hour or more. Why"
She seems to have been beached
up north here q little way"
"She may have been. Or they've
been lying to out there"
In Orme's mind arose . surmise
that in this motor-boat Maku and his
companion had come from Chicago.
The surmise was 50 strong as to de-
velop quickly into q certainty. And
II the japanese had come by this
boat. 1t stood to reason that the one
who had the papers was escaping in
1t. He must have waited some time
for Maku and. At last. had pushed OF
to return alone.
Were these japanese acting for
themselves? That did not seem pos
sible. Then who was their en-
ployer?
Orme did not puzzle long over
these questions, for he had deter
mined on q course Of action. He
spoke to the life-saver, who appeared
to be listening to the droning con-
versation which continued within the
station.
THE hold-up men may be in that
boat" remarked Orme.
Hardly" A laugh accompanied the
answer.
We'll. why not! She came north
an hour or 50 ago and either was
beached or lay to until just now"
You may be right" Then. before
Orme knew what was happening. the
young man opened the door and
called into the station: Hey. there!
Your robber Is escaping on that
motor-boat out there"
Whats that?' Tho policeman
strobe to the door.
Don't you hear that boat out
there?" asked the lKesaver.
.Sure I hear II"
We'll. she came up from the south
an hour or more ago and stopped .
little north Of here. Now she's 60
ing back. Mr.. Holmes. here"-he
grinned a. he said it-"Mr. Holmes
suggests that the hold-up man II
aboard"
The reference to the famous detect
i've Of fiction was lost upon the 20
liceman. Il guess that's about It. Mr..
Holiness" he said excitedly; and Orme
was much relieved to note that the
life-saver's humorous reference had
passed for an Introduction. The 20
liceman would have NO suspicion o6
him now-unless Maku-
within the room. What's the mat
teri" asked the policeman. turning In
the doorway.
The voice Of Asuki replied: He
say the robber came in q bicycle
not in . boat"
But l thought he didn't sec the
fellow coming"
He remember now.
The policeman started. How did
he know what We were talking about
out here?" he demanded.
He understand English. but not
speak It." replied Asuki readily.
To the policeman this explanation
was satisfactory. Orme. of course.
found in 1t q corroboration Of his
guess. Maku evidently did not wish
suspicion directed against the motor
boat.
The policeman reentered the sta
ton. eager to avail himself Of the in
formation which Maku was now dis
posed to give him.
Orme turned to the life-saver. The
Jap is lying" he said.
Think SOL"
'Of course. II he understands Eng
lish so well. he certainly knows how
to make himself understood In 1t.
His story of the bicycle Il preposter-
GUS"
But what them?
Doesn't It occur to you that per-
haps the Jap himself Is the robber?
His intended victim may have got the
better of him."
YES" said the young man doubt
fully, but the fellow ran"
That would be natural. Doubt
less he didn't want any notoriety.