Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-20
CHAPTER XVI.
Wanted-A Fortress.

They advanced closer.
Gentlemen. I must beg Of you to make
no resistance. nor raise cry" Won Huss-
man addressed US. impressing his re-
marks with the point of the pistol he car
ried ready. 1T would be OF no use in
any case. I shall take charge OF the
tankard, if you please, and we will now
go down to the beach. Kindly give me
your attention while l explain what 1t is
necessary to do; the dingey OF my
friends yacht is awaiting us little way
up from your wharf, Mr.. Woodwork.
and we will proceed to it. On the yacht
we shall drop a few miles down the
coast and set you ashore. which will pre-
vent you from giving an immediate alarm
and at the same time enable us to put
well out to sea. I regret that occasion
has arisen for making such a return for
the hospitality that l have enjoyed at
Stag Lodge. but circumstances often
force us into an apparent discourtesy.
None is intended" He smiled quietly.
'As l say, resistance is useless. You,
acquainted with me to know that in this
matter l am in earnest; l will. II neces-
sary. shoot one of you. and my friend,
Herr Amsen will dispose OF the other:
We now understand the affair and Will
go ahead. Mr.. Woodwork. you will be
must insist that you make no effort to
shake out the dish which you have men
toned as being in it,
He locked his arm in mine. his friend
did the same with Billy, and we walked
through the door and out into the night,
bearing a gift to the Germans.
with your permission, 1 would speak,
said 1.
ITO be sure, there's nothing to prevent
conversation" the baron laughed
2,.t 7 o$ {v1 10t1 htrYyH In
stead 1 looked grimly at Billy, who was
marching in silence in the arm grip OF
the sturdy. bearded yachtsman.
Il desire only to remind my friend.
Lieut.. Harrington. of his recent remark,
in which he expressed fear that he
would have no chance for fun
Billy said nothing, neither did he look
my way. The baron. however, was
amused
And so Mr.. Harrington is an officer. "
said he. I'm the American army, sup
poser
quite right
THAT is good have the honor to fill
an officers rank in the army Of my own
country. While we are sailing down the
coast he and I shall discuss military sub
have a famous discussion. in fact. one
on the modern theory Of strategy"
II fear that late practice would tell to
your advantage. baron" Billy retorted.
The MAXIM unexpected attack in SUI
perior strength is still unassailable as a
war measure" Decidedly the baron was
amused.
We reached the wharf, turned north.
and followed up the beach a hundred
yards to where we came upon a boat.
Two stout sailors. dressed in blue uni
forms. came smartly to attention as we
stopped. Amsen, who appeared to be
both owner and captain Of the yacht for
which we were bound. assisted Billy into
the boat, still keeping fast hold upon his
arm. while the baron guided me to a seat
and dropped down by my side. The
sailors pushed off, sprang in and seized
their oars.
You're little surprised at the turn
Of events. my dear Woodwork" said
my seat mate.
'.oh. I knew you would spring some
trick pretty SOON
The baron fingered his mustache, strok-
ing its ends upward complacently.
II was really on my way to join Amsen
at Boston for a short cruise when / made
your acquaintance on the Grain. The map
interested me, SO / dropped him a wire
to hold up till he received further word.
That was a heavy check you gave me
over yonder. the evening of our coming
You're having your revenge now.
baron"
Revenge. oh no. That blow did not
rankle In my heart; on the contrary. 1t
aroused by respect. It's solid fist you
carry"
l moved the tankard on my lap. Dis
gust not wrath, filled me. To have such
tame and farcical ending to the day,
and to have 1t with this German opponent
after what / had been through with Senior
Del Hervalle. drained me Of anger. Once
the notion to fling the tankard into the
sea flashed into my mind: but the baron S
hand which held the revolver rested in
plain view upon his knee. 1t was a very
large revolver. and very businesslike
one. Furthermore, l cOnsoled myself with
the thought that no harm would follow
with the map In Won Hussman's posses
| sion; he would probably destroy it or for
ward 1t to his government, where 1t would
be buried forever. 1t was by no manner
of means the same thing as II Senior Del
Hervalle's fat little fingers had got hold
of It, So / unused and nursed the tankard
and thought of many things, among them
of the dead man lying on the sand by
the ghostly boats, and Of Andrew rub
bling his bewildered head because Master
Charles had again vanished. and tina,
| without eating his supper.
And this yacht?' l inquired.
Why, had but to drop a wire from
the railway station for 1t to steam w
mere. 1t arrived last night and lay of
shore. In accordance with the instruc.
tons given in my telegram, Amsen put
out at daybreak in a launch and met me
up near the lighthouse. whittier / walked
There our plans to cooperate were ar
| ranged"
His then was the vessels smoke saw
| this morning. l said, q light breaking
upon my mind.
| Yes"
| We're certainly not rowing out thai
| distance in this fog!"
by no means. Under cover Of the mis-,
he drew in close to the island The yacn-
is not over 200 yards off shore and VIZ
| can't be far away now
Indeed. but a few minutes elapsed be-
| fore a vague shape doomed up CROWNS
more distinct with every pull OF the oars
| The sea was smooth. black and oily. anl
| our boat rose and sank as each swell
lifted it and let 1t slide into a hollow. A,
last we were close upon the craft. i
| was trim steam yacht, not large
though. judging by its lines, a fast saller
we came alongside and Unanswered t.
catch the step let down for u.s.
| IT will take the tankard," the baror
said. significantly. Il can't afford nov
| to have it slip into the sea-" And II wa.
| his hand that carried ii up the ladder.
| We were led Immediately to Capt. Am
sens cabin. the captain lingering a mo
ment to give a few directions to the mate
| Even as he Joined us and we sat dowr
about the table we could hear the steam
winch dragging up the anchor. and
sailors feet moving about the deck il
| obedience to orders.
1T may interest you. baron" I said
ito know that you've robbed me not onl,
| OF my map but Of my supper I dom
know which is worse But as a prisone,
L g.