The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-18
THE NEWS SHORT STORY

the ways or the AelluW man, ana ne
realized that such an elaborate plot as
the roundabout method Of stealing
stun from the hulk must appeal 10
the stratagcm loving Chinoman.
4 plot of such magnitude neceSSitat-
ed the employment Of many confed-
crates. and when each grade Of viii
lain had received his share there must
be. a goodly portion for the chief plot
ter. hence business must be done Oh
a large scale
As Philip poudered these things his
ears were strained toward the upper
landing where "A confused murmur
rose and fell. Presently IL increased
to a roar, and il was apparent that
whatever had been TRANSPORTING IN the
fog had been interrupted and intense
excitement was rampant among the
coolies and boatmen.
Then there was silence for several
moments while they sat listening
Suddenly Philip uttered a warning
cry:
Let her 60, Peter, Great Scott.
were in FOR it, Look OUT
There was a hurried rush down the
stone steps, the dull tlud cf many bare
running feet and then score Of phan-
tom hands seemed 20 take possession
/ of the launch and its occupants
While the two men i'm the launch had
/ expected an attack of some kind IL
their presence in that vicinity should
be discovered, they We're unprepared
/ &, er,gb "a u,fI,Tatt aud fInrpn ,pg lauUbt
For an instant only were they dis
concerted: then they sprang to meet
| their ASSISTANTS halfway-nay, three
! quarters way-for that is an Ameri-
| can trait
Peter Cook grabbed wrench and
laid about him Justify among heads
and hands that he could only guess
, were bobbing about in the darkness
which surrounded the launch.
Philip was wrestling silently with a
pair of strong, half naked coolies. who
! had seized upon him and were endeav-
orng to pinlon his arms.
As he struggled Philip was conscious
that numbers were being added to the
attacking party. He heard the breath
ing Of men, and he was aware of the
! presence of many human beings about
HMM the water, on the stone steps
and on the wharf above him.
Philip knew that he and Peter would
soon be overpOwered 10y the increasing
numbers and so, with a great and des-
/ pcrate effort. he thrust aside the cling
! ing hands that were menacing him
and, bending down to the engine. open
! ed the valve and in breath's time had
returned to his fight, and now he found
three coolies 10 deal with instead Of
two and the fighting was hard
With n sudden swish the launch
backed violently away from the land
ing. overturning the swarming coolies
and cutting a swath through the crowd
which had gathered in the water about
them
Philip struggled with his three as
sailantS, expecting every moment 10 re-
ceive a knife thrust or TO feel gar
rioters cord encircle his throat The
odds were much against them, but it
was evident that it was the intention
of the attackers TO take the foreigners
alive-to make them prisoners. but not
to harm them.
The launch cleared herself from the
swarming coolies, leaving a wake of
| broken heads and angry yelps.
With a final effort Philip dealt a Wig
orous blow through the darkness 10
the man on his left The coolie dou-
/ bed Imply, poised on the gunwale and
then is.ypeared into the inky black
ness. As ne struck the rail the boat
mrched, and this sudden shock knock
eel the two remaining coolies from
their feet, and, with jabbering shrieks,
they, too vanished.
Then Philip turned his attention 20
/ Peter Cook, whose PROSTATE form be
could dimy discern in the bottom of
the boat
He took small dark lantern from n
locker and turned its ray on the face
of the boy.
Peter opened his eyes, blinked and
stared curiously Mt Philip.
are YOU all right, Peter?" asked
Philip anXiously.
"Surc thing" said Peter briskly as
he struggled to his feet and took the
wheel. II hope l wouldn't squeal for
a burned chink Whe-ee, but that
fellow gave me a ciipl l expect I'll
he dizzy the rest OF my life"
The lantern disclosed a knob.like
bunch on the back of the boys head.
81 am glad it's no worse said Phil
ip ms he dipped his handkerchief In
the water aud applied it to the injured
spot whats that" he asked sharply.
THAT" was the crack OF revolver
and. together with the sharp spat Of a
bullet in the water near by, testified
that they were still pursued.
They were dashiug through the wa
ter az top speed now and, aided 10y the
current, would soon he abreast OF the
foreign quarters Although the thick
fog still encirclcd them, the blurred
dimneSs of houSeboat lights along the
shore Indicated that they were well in
the middle OF the stream.
Suddenly dark shape loomeS before
them, and the launch crashed into nm
obstruction and then rcbounded only
to ill at once and sink ont OF sight.
! philip and the boy jumped nj the In.