The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-12-15

corrected. Nothing can ever restore
my lost faith in gentle woman's gentle
ness. When you brought that young
woman aboard I thought butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth, and for q
while | 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 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 tc
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
x don't blame her for trying to slay
you, and I'm sorry l interfered."
There's gratitude for you'll" Mr.
Barcus remarked bitterly. II risk my
life for you, and you won't even let
me talk about IT."
ut isn't your talking / mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr.
Law explained. Besides-listen!"
For moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
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 out!" 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 it's occupants the two
startled figures on the beach
Before they could stir the weird
light giimmered on polished weapon
in the, bow of the boat, a spiteful
tongue of reddish fame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Barcus, and with sad thud of disap
pointment buried itself in the sands OF
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
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 we'll 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 it's several occupants
four or five of them, all men, appar-
ently-jumping out, set off in pursuit
of the fugitives, 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 floundered and bias.
phemed at random round quarter
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr..
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies, like two snakes in the
beach-grass, up the back Of a 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 afloat, under armed guard
Very slowly and stealthily Alan got
to his feet and swung back over his
shoulder a heavy club of driftwood.
A match spluttered beside the dory
and famed in the still air, relieving
with its reddish glow bronzed and
evil visage.
The guard pulled fast end had the
tobacco well aglow when the sky took
advantage Of his trustfulness and fell
upon him like an avalanche.
Simultaneously Alan and Barcus de-
scended the face of the bluff in two
miniature landslides, dug themselves
out, and by the time the dazed and
disarmed guard had sufficiently recov-
cred to cry out for help the dory was
a hundred yards off the beach and
making excellent time in the direction
of that lonely green light.
They wrought with the oars like
men possessed, yet with a machine
like precision that drove the boat fast
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. attempt to still
the splashing Of their blades. Con-
cealment of their purpose from those
who remained aboard the schooner
was out Of the question. The shouts,
the shots, the play of f1ashlamps
along the beach-as though Bedlam
had loosed half dozen lunatic will
o. the wisps upon the holy peace of
night-must have betrayed the fact
that they had turned the tables long
before the dory left the inshore shoals.