The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-23

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for myself"
For two million dollars-I would
mott" Barcus affirmed with great de-
cision.
A moment or SO later the line OF
little flames went out altogether and
unexpectedly; and the owner CT the
late Seaventure fancied he could hear,
even at that distance, the hiss of
charred and smoldering timbers sucked
under and drowned out
Exit he announced plaintively,
exit Seaventure," with heroic gesture.
'R. I. p. a good little ship
Alan Law sat up, abstractedly scrub
bling 4 crust OF sand from his cheeks
and commented soulfully: oh
damn!"
That goes double here" his COM
panion rejoined. And the way
| see it, i've got right to do all tho
cussing at this juncture Of our heros
foolish, but fascinating adventures.
I'm the injured party-it was my boat,
and now it's gone. I'm broke for fair.
Gee!" lie pursued vindictively.
oh, let up, cant you." Ar. E.~W
exclaimed Eeevishly. Pm sorrier than
vou are-and after all. it's my loss:
I've sot to buy you another boat All
iou'ya lost is YOUR temper"
"Afa my susceptibility to the charms
of tho weil-known SEX" Mr.. Barcus
corrected. Nothing can ever restore
my lost faith in gentle woman's gentle
ness. When you brought that young
woman aboard l thought butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth, and for a
while | actually contemplated doing
her the kindness or tipping you over
into the drink, SOS she could lavish
her tender affections on regular guy,
yGomeone able to appreciate he:'-mean-
ing me, of course. And first thing L
know, she ups and points gun at my
head and tips me overheard, and then
makes a pretty bonfire out OF my
sailboat. And all the excuse you can
produce is that she's crazy in the
head. Well, who said she wasn't?
Any woman who would consent to
,elope with you is tit subject for a
commission de lunatico inquirendo, all
right"
"If you inflicted any such monologue
as that on Judith" retorted Mr.. Law,
II don't blame her for trying to Stay
you, and I'm sorry interfered."
There's gratitude for you!" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. II risk my
life for you, and you won't even let
me talk about it,"
at isn't your talking I mind-t's
the everlasting noise you make Mr..
Law explained. Besides-listen!"
For moment tho two maintained
attentive silence.
A silken whisper troubled the 81
lence, a little llutter of sound from far
across the waters. Gradually it gath
cred volume, became recognizable as
the lisp of cautious oars.
I'm going away from here" Mr.
.Earcus announced guardedly, and gath
cred his legs under him preparatory
to rising.
Half Il second" Alan Law insisted.
rising in turn and grespng the other
by the arm. They've got to land
haven't they?-and leave the boat
while they look for US. Well, then.
what's to prevent our hiding in tho
dunes and" ....
In the next breath. Look Quit" he
shricked
With no warning whatever, and
within fifty feet Of them, q CHASTITY
flare broke out in full blaze on the
surface of the water, revealing the
shape OF dory which had drawn in
unseen under cover Of the profound
darkness, and at the same time dis
covering to its occupants the two
startled figures on. the beach.
Before they could stir the weird
light glimmered on a polished weapon
in the bow of the boat. q spiteful
tongue of reddish flame spat out. 4
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Rarcus, and with sad thud of disap-
rointmcnt buried itself in the sands of
the wav--eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to ac-
ton by the report, the two turned and
pelted Off down the beach, TO escape
that deadly area of illumination.
Other shots sped after them, but
none was so well aimed. and presently.
finding 4 break in the bluff, they
swung Off into the grateful shelter OF
the night-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the derry had grounded on
the beach. and its several occupants
four or five of them, al! men, appar-
emily jumping out, set off in pursuit
of the fugitivcs, following the tracks
in the sand.
The blackloss of the night, how
ever. conspired with the savage laby-
rinth of the dunes to save Alan and
his companion.
Within another five minutes-while
still the pursuit toundered and bias
phemed at random round quarter
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr..
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies, like two snakes in tho
ch-grass, up the back CT a ten-foCt
bluff And presently from its brow
they looked down on the spot where
the dory lay, only its bow out of water.