Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-08
The Daily Story
FIGHT IN THE DARBY cLARIssA MAcKIE.
Copyrighted 1918 by Assocatel Literary Bureau

coolies ana poatmen.
Then there was silence for several
moments while hey sat listening.
Suddenly Philip uttered a warning
cry;
Let her go. Peter! Great Scott,
we're in for it, Look outv'
There was hurried rush down the
stone steps. the dull thud OF many bare
running feet and then score of phan-
tom hands seemed to take possession
of the launch and its occupants.
While the two men IN the launch had
expected an attack of some kind II
their presence in that vicinity should
be discovered, they were unprepared
for such a sudden and fierce onslaught.
For an instant only were they dis
concerted; then they sprang to meet
their assailants halfway-nay, three
quarters way-for that is an Ameri-
can trait
Peter Cook grabbed a 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-
oring to pinion 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 tie
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 by the increasing
numbers, and so, with a great and des-
perate effort, he thrust aside the cling
ing hands that were menacing him
! and, bending down to the engine, open
| ed the valve and in q breath's time had
| returned to his fight and now he found
! three coolies to deal with instead OF
two, and the lighting was hard.
With a sudden swish the launch
! backed violently away from the land
ing, overturning the swarming coolies
and cutting swath through the crowd
which had gathered in the water about
them.
Philip struggled with his three as
sailants, expecting every moment to re-
ceive u knife thrust or to feel gar
roter's cord encircle his throat. The
odds We're much against them, but 1t
was evident that 1t 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 q final effort Philip dealt Wig
orous blow through the darkness to
the man on his left. The coolie dou-
bled Imply. poised on the gunwale and
then disappeared into the inky black
ness. AS he struck the rail the boat
lurched and this sudden shock knock
ed the two remaining coolies from
their feet, and, with jabbering shrieks,
they, too, vanished.
Then Philip turned his attention to
Peter Cook, whose PROSTATE form he
could dimly discern in the bottom Of
the boat
He took small dark lantern from a
locker and turned its ray on the face
Of the boy.
Peter opened his eyes, blinked and
stared curiously at Philip.
Are you all right, Peter?" asked
Philip anxiously.
"Sure thing!" said Peter briskly as
he struggled to his feet and took the
wheel. 81 hope I wouldn't squeal for
a burned chink. Whe-e-e. but that
fellow gave me a clip! I expect I'll
be 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
Up as he dipped his handkerchief in
the water and applied 1t 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 dashing through the wa
ter at top speed now and, aided by the
current, would soon be abreast of the
foreign quarters. Although the thicl
fog still encircled them, the blurred
dimness of houseboat lights along tbs
shore indicated that they were well II
the middle of the stream.
Suddenly dark shape doomed befor,
them, and the launch crashed into al
obstruction and then rebounded. onf.
to I'll at once and sink out of sight
Philip and the boy jumped at the in
slant of impact, and when the launcl
disappeared with Kissing gurgles be
meath the rivers surface they sough
each other In the dimness and togethe
: swan toward the shore.
, 1t was Peter who first found foot
: ing and clambered up the muddy banl
''See where we are, sirI' he called
Philip Newton reached his side an
looked down the winking length of tn
lighted Bund Just beyond them wa
Punderson's jetty, from which the
had started a couple OF hours ago.
: A junk doomed out Of re night an
teetered on the current
: "She will go up the Yangzte topigh
r We will get her the next time" sal
0 Philip grimly. .sIss,.,.
/ And they did. sFzEHzH
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