The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-11-06

woman ABOARD thought putter
wouldn't melt In her mouth, and for a.
while ! actually contemplated doing
her the kindness OF tipping you over
into the drink. SOS she could lavish
her tender affections on regular guy,
someone able to appreciate her-mean-
ing me, Of course. And first thing /
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?
elope with you is fit subject for
commission de lunatico inquirendo, all
| right"
"If you inflicted any such monologue
| as that on Judith" retorted Mr.. Law,
Il don't blame her for trying to STAY
| you, and I'm sorry l interfered."
There's gratitude for you'll" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. Il risk my
life for you. and you won't even let
me talk about It'll"
1T isn't your talking I mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr..
Law explained. Besides-listen!"
/ For moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
A silken whisper troubled the ST.
lence, little futter 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..
Barcus announced guardedly, and gath
cred his legs under him preparatory
to rising.
Half a second" Alan Law insisted,
rising In turn and grasping 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 the
dunes and-?"
In the next breath, Look out!" he
shrieked.
With no warning whatever, and
within fifty feet of them, a 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 polished weapon
in the bow of the boat. spiteful
tongue Of reddish fame spat out, q
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Barcus, and with sad thud of disap-
pointment buried itself In the sands OF
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to &C
ton by the report, the two turned and
peited 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 a break in the bluff, they
swung off into the grateful shelter Of
the night-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded or
the beach, and it's several occupants
four or five of them, all men, appar
ently-jumping out, set off in pursuit
of the fugitives, following the tracks
in the sand.
The bIackness of the night, how
ever, conspired with the savage laby
rinth Of the dunes to save Alan anC
his companion.
Within another five minutes-whilt
Q still the pursuit fioundered and bias
0 phemed at random round quarter
! mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr.
Barcus were noiselessly squirming OF
q their bellies, like two snakes in tbs
;. beach-grass, up the back of ten-foo
bluff. And presently from its brow
l. they looked down on the spot wher'
the dory lay, only its bow out Of water
s its stern afioat, under armed guard
Very slowly and stealthily Alan go
: to his feet and swung back over hi
shoulder heavy club of driftwood.
d A match spluttered beside the dor,
r and famed In the still air, relieving
d with its reddish glow a bronzed an,
q evil visage.
d The guard pulled fast and had tn
n tobacco well aglow when the sky tool
q advantage of his trustfulness and fel
Q upon him like an avalanche.
y simultaneously Alan and Barcus dc
scended the face of the bluff In tw
g miniature landslides, dug themselve
out, and by the time the dazed an
d disarmed guard had sufficiently reco1
e cred to cry out for help the dory wa
hundred yards of the beach an
d making excellent time in the directio
e of that lonely green light.
The commAnest precautions. how
il ever, made them pause and rest upo
d their oars willie yet little way fror
e their goal.
r, Only an C1iinous silence rewarde
If the utmost efforts Of their strainin
ID senses; no sound was audible othe
than the gentle whine Of an ungrease
Y, block; nothing was visible beyond th
Q. sinister glare Of that almost stationar
green lantern.
W what think?" Bsrcus inquired 1
n dubious undertone.
:. ssNya *aIlSrup Alan rapIiod On en-