Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-10
Copyright. 1914, BY Louis Joseph Vance
ana oommented souIfuIly

That goes double here" his com
panion rejoined And the way
see it, I've got 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!" ne pursued vindietively.
"oh, let up, can't youi" Mr.. Law
exclaimed peevishly. "Pm sorEier than
you are-and after all, it's my loss;
I've got to buy you another boat AL
you've lost is your temper"
And NV snananfihililv to thu 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 l actually contemplated doing
her the kindness OF tipping you over
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
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
commission de lunatieo 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, ard I'm sorry interfered"
There's gratitude for you!" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. 81 risk my
life for you, and you won't even let
me talk about it,"
1T isn't your talking mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr..
Law explained. 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 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 outl" he
shrieked.
With no warning whatever, and
within fifty feet Of them. a CHASTITY
fare 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 tw
startled figures on. the beach.
Before they could stir the weird
light glimmered on a polished weapon
in the bow of the boat, spiteful
tongue of reddish flame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Bareus, and with sad thud of disap-
pointment buried itself in the sands of
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to ac-
tion 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 nfght-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded on
the beach, and its several occupants
four or five Of them, all men, appar-
jumping out, set off in pursuit
of the fugitives, following the tracks
in the sand
b6 DtdlhuCSn W tIC A@6Aby INV
ever, eonspired with the savage laby-
rinth Of the dunes to save Alan and
his companion
Within another five minutes -whilc
still the pursuit fioundefed and bias
phemed at random a round quarter
mile to the south--Mr. Law and Mr..
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies. Ike 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 its bow out Of water
its stern afioat. under armed guard
Very slowly and stealthily Alan goi
to his feet and swung back over his
shoulder q heavy club Of driftwood.
A match spluttered beside the dors
and famed in the still air, relieving
with its reddish glow bronzed anC
| evil yisage.
The guard pulled fast and had the
tobacco well aglow when the sky tool
advantage Of his trustfulness and fel
1 upon him like an avalanche.
simultaneously Alan and Barcus dc
scended the face Of the bluff in tws