The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-30

ment That turned the reporters easA -
too. now saw the woman in the water a.
wondered how she had come there. WI
Brains reached the girl and pulled her -
the launch Jim saw her face plainly.
He dew from his vantage point. found .
ski6. and started after Brains.
By the Lord Harry" murmursd H.
rogue. Well. they can talk 81 mamma frsn
heaven, but this il what call luck. Flee.
ence Harsreave, out Of nowhere. into ~
arms! The god Of luck has cast anoth0
horseshoe and it's mine"
He had q flask in his pocket. and he forco1
some Of the biting spirits down the sistO
throat. She opened ner eyes.
well, my beauty7"
Florence eyed him wildly, not quite undeDA
standing where he had come from.
!" 1 don't know how you got here" ne sai1s
land 1 don't care. But here We are -
gether at hast. Where 10 your fatheee"
Ill don't know" dazedly.
Better think quickly" he warned. II
want lucid answers to my questions. or hack
you 60 into the water. I'm about at the end
Of my rope. I've been beaten too many
times, my girl, to have any particular love
for you. Now, where is your father3"
:" don't know: have never seen him"
Braine laughed.
And Jim's boat ran afoul some rocks and
into the water he went. He had not at
tracted Braine's attention, fortunately. He
began to swim toward the drifting launch.
where have they hidden that money!"
AZ don't know
We'll, well; I've given you your chance.
You'll have to try your luck with the water
again"
Florence. weak ~ she was, set her lips.
You don't ask for mercyY" he said
banterinsiy.
L should b wasting my breath to ask
for mercy from such . monster ~ you are"
she answered quickly.
That damned Hargreave ner*e!" he
smaried.
He rolled up his sleeves and stepped
toward her. She braced herself but did not
turn her eyes from his. Suddenly, from
nowhere at all, came q pair Of hands. One
clutched the gunwale and the other laid
hold Of Braine. quick pull followed, and
Braine began to topple. But even - he fell
he managed to ding himself atop his assail-
ant; and it was only when the struggle began
in the water that he recognized the reporter.
An the devil in him came to the surface and
he fought with the herceness Of . tiger to
kin. kin. kill. In nearly every instance this
meddling reporter had checkmated him. This
time one or the other Of them should stay in
the water.
Norton recognized that he had large order
before MIN to disable Braine. The recosnf-
ton between them was now frank and abso-
lutte; there could never again be any diplo-
matte sidesteppins.
You're q dead man, Nortoni" painted
Braine, a. he reached for tho reporters
throat.
Norton said nothing. but struck the hand
aside. For . moment they both went under.
They came up sputtering. each trying for .
hold. It was a terribly enervatins struggle.
Florence could do nothing. The boat in
which she sat continued to drift away from
the fighting men. Once she tried to reach
Braine with the pole ne had been using, but
failed.
From the shore came another boat. For
awhile she could not tell whether II con-
tanned friends Or enemies. It was terrible to
be forced to wait, absolutely helpless. When
she heard the newcomers call encoura gingly
to Braine she knew then that the brave tight
Of her sweetheart was going to come to
naught. She knew . little about motors.
She threw ON the power and headed straight
toward the rowboat. The men shouted at
her, but she did not alter her course. The
rowboat had its sides crushed IN and the
men went piling into the water.
''Jim," she cried.
Norton suddenly flung OF Braine and BEGAN
to swim madly for the motorboat, which
Florence had brought about. Even then Il
was only BY the barest luck in the world that
Norton managed to catch the sunwals The
rest Of it was simple. When they finally
reached haven, Florence. oddly enough.
thought Of the horse she had left tsthered
nine miles from the stables. She lauehed
hysterically.
81 guess he won't die. We can send soma
one out for him. Now, for heavens sake.
how did you get into this? Where were you'll
What have you been mp tot" with tender
brusqueness.
II wanted to do little detective work of
my own" she faltered.
It looks ~ il you mad done II. You
infant! win you never learn to keen ont