The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-31
Written By Charles Goddard.
The DISTINGUISHED Playwright

standing in front Of the old McGnlock road
house a mile back. There were a lot Of men
at McGillock's. the boys knew. but when
they stopped to see what the men were
doing one of the men had picked up . club
and run after them. swearing.
Harry pressed the car forward eagerly.
The roar Of the waves and the wind drown
ed the loud gratitude of the youngsters
scrambling for the coins he tossed to them.
The growing tumulit Of the storm was in
a way cheering to him. It would be fool
hardy to launch small boat on the bay
and no large one could be brought near
enough to take anyone aboard. Harry
reckoned that it was the fear of the storm
that had driven the mysterious seamen to
place Pauline in hiding; that they intended
to conceal her either until the wind should
abate or until night should shroud their
operations.
His mind was so intent upon his surmises
that he would have driven straight past the
roadhouse without seeing 1t il It had not
been for his fixed watch upon the wheel
ruts in the road.
He saw the tracks swerve in toward the
landward side of the highway and. instantly
looking up, he viewed, with mingled salts
faction and alarm, the grim gray skeleton
of the roadhouse. He clamped the machine
to a quick stop and leaped out.
He saw that the car which he pursued
had been driven on. but he was certain that
IL udO StOppcO OCC0u00 VI lilo AOOIRI10t0
of heavy boots in the road sand and on the
path leading to the building.
He loosened in its holster the revolver
which he had carried for months and was
preparing to venture into the deserted
house when q feck Of white In the muddy
road caught his eye.
In an instant he held IN his hand . tiny
white handkerchief Of finest linen. He
started to shake the grit from It but
stopped as he felt something hard in its
folds. One glance at the object turned his
footsteps back to his machine. He knew
now not only that the handkerchief was
Pauline's but also that there was no need
to examine the house. He sprang to the
seat and drove on at full speed. For an in
slant to his lips he pressed the little hand
kerchief, sweet with the soft perfume that
he loved, sacred with its revealing token.
The road was desperately heavy and
Harry saw with chagrin that the machine
was wavering under the strain. A half
mile on from the roadhouse it came to a
dead stop. With groan Harry got down
and stared dejectedly around him. There
was no need to look at the engine. He
knew well enough what was the matter
matter enough to require two hours work
of repair.
Harry had no two hours to spare from
the business in hand. He would follow on
foot and take the chance Of failure rather
than the risk of delay. He had strobe. or
rather waded. only few hundred yards up
the beach when he came upon . skin, drawn
high away from the tide, but seemingly
abandoned by its owner.
Along its seats lay an old mutton-leg
mast and sail, which could be used ON the
water in q mild breeze
Harry paused beside the craft for q mo-
ment. Then, with a sudden inspiration, he
caught up the mast and tested the dingy
sail.
Why not!" he answered his own doubts
1t won't hurt to try" And he hurried back
to the car, carrying the sail