The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-12-10

phulOu E0JOlucu. AhO ZIG "oy
see it, I've got a 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. "Tm 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 charms
of the well-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 thought butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth, and for
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 l
know. she ups and points a 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 a fit subject for a
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 slay
you, and I'm sorry l interfered."
There's gratitude for you!" Mr.
Barcus remarked bitterly. 81 risk my
life for you, and you won't even lei
me talk about it,"
1T isn't your talking mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr.
Law explained. "Besides-listen!"
For a moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
A silken whisper troubled the 81
lence, little flutter of sound from fal
dClOSS LILO WalCA6s ~ 6oS"
cred volume, became recognizable as
the lisp Of cautious oars.
''Im 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 othel
by the arm. They've got to land
haven't they?-snd leave the boa
while they look for us. Well. then
what's to prevent our hiding in the
dunes and"
In the next breath, Look out!" ht
shrieked.
With no warning whatever, an(
within fifty feet Of them, a ghastlJ
fare broke out in full blaze on the
surface of the water, revealing the
shape of dory which had drawn II
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 weirC
light glimmered ON a polished weapon
in the bow of the boat, spltefu
tongue of reddish flame spat out,
bullet sang between Messrs. Law an(
Barcus, and with a sad thud Of disap
pointment buried itself in the sands o
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
| atfrroH 20 n
ton by the report, the two turned ant
pelted off down the beach, to escape
that deadly area of illumination.
Other shots sped after them, bu
none was so we'll aimed, and presently
finding a break in the bluff, the!
swung off into the grateful shelter o
the night-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded oil
the beach, and it's several occupants
four or five of them, all men, appar
ently-jumping out, set off in pursui
of the fugitives. following the track
in the sand.
The blackness of the night, how
ever, conspired with the savage laby
rinth of the dunes to save Alan AM
his companion.
Within another five minutes-whil
still the pursuit fioundered and bias
phemed at random a round quarter
mile to the south-Mr. Law and MI
Barcus we're noiselessly sQuirming o.
their bellies, like two snakes in tn
ch-grass, up the back of ten-foo
bluff. And presently from its broN
they looked down on the spot wher
the dory lay. only Its bow out Of water
its stern afloat, under armed guarC
Very slowly and stealthily Alan &c
to his feet and swung back over hi
shoulder a heavy club Of driftwood
A match spluttered beside the dor
and famed in the still air. relievin
with its reddish glow a bronzed an
evil visage.
The guard puffed fast and had tn
tobacco well aglow when the sky too
advantage of his trustfulness and fe
upon him like an avalanche.
simultaneously Alan and Barcus d,
scended the face of the bluff in tw
miniature landslides, dug themselve
, out, and by the time the dazed an
disarmed guard had sufficiently reco'
cred to cry out for help the dory wa
. a hundred yards of the beach an
making excellent time in the directio
, of that lonely green light.
, They wrought with the oars I'D
men possessed, yet with a machin
, like precision that drove the boat IA
and furiously-without attempt to ST
the splashing of their blades. Co
. cealment OF their purpose from tho
4 who remained aboard the schoon
! was out Of the question. The shout
A. .AoA. Ahn nlnu ~ Aanhlasn,