The Washington times., 1914-11-01

Braine thought he really had clue
to the treasure, and with his usua'
promptness he set about to learn II 1t
was worth anything. He procured
launch and began to prowl about
using a pole as feeler. All the while
he was being closely watched by
Norton. who had concluded to hang
onto Braine's trail till he found some
thlng worthy of note. Bralne was
disguised but this time Jim was not
10 be fooled. But what was ne look
ing for. wondered the reporter!
Bralne continued to pole along. some
times pausing to look over the gun
vale down into the water In raising
his head after the last investigation
ne dlscerned something struggling III
current leisurely brought the object
INTO full view. 1t was young woman
with just power enough to keep her
self afioat. The golden head reused
something in him stronger than curl
osIty. 1t might be.
Braine proceeded to move the launch
IN the direction of the girl. 1t was
th1s movement that turned the re-
woman in the water and wondered
now she had come there. When
Braine reached the girl and pulled
her into the launch Jim saw her face
He flew from his vantage point,
Braine.
by the Lord Harry" murmured
une rogue. Well, they can talk OF
| call luck. Florence Hargreave, out
OF nowhere, into my arms! The god
OF luck has cast another horseshoe
and its mine"
He had a flask in his pocket, and he
forced nf thn hitting GnirifS down
the girls throat She opened her eyes.
We'll, my beauty"
t1orence eyed him wildly not quite
understanding where he had come from.
don't know how yor got here" he
said; 'and / don't care. But here we
father?'
II don't know" dazedly.
Better think quickly" he warned.
Il want lucid answers to my questions,
or back you go into the water. I'm
about at the end of my rope. I've been
beaten too maEy times. my girl. to have
any particular love for you. Now, where
is your father"
him
Braine laughed
And Jim's boat ran afoul some rocks
and into the water he went. He had not
attracted Braine's attention, FORUM
ceS's. iit bISdil ~ SWIM ~" dlo lHc
drifting launch
Where have they hidden that
money!"
Il don't know"
Well, we'll; I've given You your
chance. You'll have to try your luck
with the water again.
Florence, weak as she was, set her
lips.
You don't ask for mercy?' he said
barteringly..
Il should be wasting my breath to ask
for mercy from such a monster as you
are" she answered quickly.
That damned Hargreave nerve!' he
snarled.
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 a pair of
hands. One clutched the gunwale and
the other laid hold Of Braine. A quick
pull followed, and Braine began to top
pie. But even as he fell he managed to
fling himself atop his assailant, and 1t
was only when the struggle began in
the water that he recognized the re-
porter. All the devil in him came to the
surface and Re fought with the fierce
ness of a tiger to kill. kill kill. In
nearly every instance this meddling re-
porter had checkmated him. This time
one or the other of them should stay
In the water.
Norton recognized that he had a large
order before him to disable Braine. The
recognition between them was now frank
and absolute: there could never again
be any diplomatic sidestepping.
you're a dead man, Norton,' painted
Braine. as he reached for the reporter 8
throat
Norton said nothing. but struck the
hand aside. For a moment they both
went under. They came up sputtering,
n:Ch try+ino for hold If
rfhly enervating struggle.
Florence could do nothing. The boat
in which she sat continued TO drift away
from the fighting men. once she tried
to reach Brane with the pole he had
been using, but failed.
From the shore came another boat.
For awhile she could not tell whether il
contained friends or enemies. 1t was
terrible to be forced to walt, absolutely
helpless. When she heard the new
CCmers call encouraSingly to Braine she
knew then that the brave fight of her
sweetheart was going to come to naught.
She knew "A 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 it's sides crushed in and
the men went piling into the water.
"Jim," she cried.
Norton suddenly flung off Braine and
began to swim madly for the motorbOat,
which Florence had brought about. Even
then it was only by the barest luck in
the world that Norton managed to catch
the gunwaIe. The rest Of it was simple.
When they finally reached haven,
Florence, oddly enough, thought of the
horse she had left tethered nine miles
from the stables. She laughed hysteri-
cally.
Il guess he won't die. We can send
some one out for him. Now. for heIV-
ems sake. how did YOU get into this?
Where were you? What have you been
up to-" with tender brusqueness.
81 wanted to do a little detective work
of my own" she faltered.
1T looks as if you had done it. You
infant, Will YOU never learn to keep
outside this muddle? It's a mans
" York"
Florence. thoroughly weakened by her
long immersion in the water, begar to
weep silently.
You poor child. I'm a brute" And
ha cOmfOrted her.
Later that day, at home, she rcmcm-
bcred the blank paper.
Il stole this from one Of the mer in
the cave. He said this blank paper
would probably save father"
linn took it. HIM, Invisible ink, and
rs had fine washing"
"Rut maybe il is waterproof"
"Maybc 1t is, Anyhow. Miss Sherlock.
W"ll show it to Jones and see what no
says
Go Be Continued Next Sunday.l
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