New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-10-14


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 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 q right to do all the
cussing at this juncture Of our hero's
foolish, but fascinating adventures.
I'm the injured party-it was my boat,
and now it's gone. I'm broke for fair.
Gee!" he pursued vindictively.
"Oh, let up, can't you'll" Mr.. Law
exclaimed peevishly. "1'm sorrier than
you are-and after all, it's my loss !
I've got to buy you another boat. All
you've lost is your temper"
and my susceptibility to the charma
Of the we1l-anown SEX" Mr. Barcps
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 OF tipping yousover
into the drink, SOS she could lavish
her tender affections on a regular guy,
someone able to appreciate her-mean-
ing me, Of course. And first thing I.
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 wasnt7
Any woman who would consent to
elope with you is fit subject for 8
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 I interfered."
There's gratitude for you!" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. Il risk my
life for you. and you won't even let
me talk ahout it!"' ~v;'ses>''. ,s*:77-~-+.
:. 1T isn't godr talking I mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr..
Law explained Besides -listen!"
: For a moment the two maintained
attentive silence. s :.
A silken whisper troubled the 81
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 QUIT" 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 a dory which had drawn in
unseen under cover of the profound
darkness, and at the same time dis
covering to it's 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, a spiteful
tongue of reddish flame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs Law and
Barcus. and with a sad thud of disap-
pointment buried itself in the sands OF
the wave-eaten bluff behind them. VI.
Like twin automatons stirred to &C
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 a break in the bluff, they
swung off into the grateful shelter Of
the night-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded on
the beach. and its several occupants
four or five of them. all men. appar-
emily jumping out, set off in pursuit
of the fugittves, following the tracks
In the sand
The blackness 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 foundered and bias
phemed at random a round quarter.
mile to the south Mr.. Law and MI.
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies, like two snakes in the
beach-grass. up the back Of ten-foot
bluff. And presently from its brow
they looked down on the spot where
the dory lay, only It's bow out Of water,
Its stern af1oat, under armed guard.
Il Vor.u r1NxryIvs s,,S5 e< 4. 4