Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-11-13

nine blocks.
Ward sprinted the distance. The car
was a twinkling star at the far end Of
the mile long international bridge when
he glimpsed her tail lights.
And that was the last for the night
except the Fowl" at 2 o'clock, the
bridge tender told him.
Ward was in despair.
A glimmer of white showed far out
on the slender framework which span
ned the mighty river in its mad rush to
Join the cataract twenty miles lower
down. 1t grew and grew, and at last a
railroad v~elocipede sped across the final
section, the rider stopping within ten
feet Of the reporter. whose brain was
pounding away with the phrase:
"The fortune Of war-the fortune Of
war;
Ward strobe over to the dismounting
rider.
~ want T. borrow your machine"
said he.
SORRY. brother, but this here is rail.
road property, and l KANT lend It."
was the 8 w
Wards brain worked like lightning.
Stepping a little closer. ne threw open
his coat and displayed his police badge
in the dim light. The shield wal much
like that of the plain clothes a
"Oh." calculated the fellow, II didn't
know you we're
"From headquarters" smoothly sup
plemented Ward. "Just went on today.
Every moment Is precious to my bust
ness"
Already the other nan was lifting
the machine around on the track again,
and he said:
"Where are you goingT'
missed the car { o Mouse point" said
the reporter.
Keep to the Y switch on your left
a mile this side Of Fort Leary. The
new cut of ave you ave miles by
keeping straight up the beach Whenn
you be backr"
"By morning surely. X you r not
here I'll get the bridge tender to put
the al In the house."
With hope high In his heart despite
the half hour handicap which ThOmp-
son had Ward bent to the Lever. His
arms seemed t~ireless. Almost before
he realized It he was lifting the car
OveF the frog at the Y switch and again
speeding between big pines toward
Mouse point
At Mouse point the road terminated
Ward pointed down the n broad ave
nue. which the summer resort boosted.
Lights fickered along the waters
edge. Excited groups Of summer idlers
from the cottages which fringed the
lake and college chaps from the Canoe
clubs casino were rushing along the
beach. while older men from the Yacht
club moved among the crowd with
grave faces.
Every one knew the story. The yacht
Merida, with six Of the most prominent
young men Of the city, had started up
the lake in a race OF forty miles and re-
turn.
When the gale broke all the boats
ran for shelter behind the blur ut
Mouse point The Nerida's crew had
attempted to come ashore In the
yachts dinghy.
It had capsized. Four were rescued
by crews of other yachts. Two were
somewhere out there in the whirl of
the pitiless waves.
There was no sign Of Thompson
along the waterfront. Ward discerned
far in the ofing OF the harbor a tiny
spot with red and green lights and q
solitary beam Of white high up
"Whats that2' he Querted Of q sailor
who was scanning the lake with a ma
rine glass.
Its a tug, but she'll never land
here tonight with the e on, and she'll
have to be careful IN making the turn
to get back to the city among those
waves"
HAS any tug come in tOnightT'
asked Ward, his heart throbbing wild.
ly.
Nothing has come ashore for two
hours, and that was the surfboat from
the life saving station bringin' in the
boys from the Neridn's dinghy after
the other yachts had picked them up
It was now 1130, and Ward could
not find the local telephone operator
But he had gone too far to be baked
by merely negative elements Of a pas
siVe character. He sought the station
itself, pushed back the window catch
with his knife blade and boldly step
ped inside.
He turned on the light and expert
mented with the switchboard until hC
had the city connection Just as hC
was asking central for the Outpost Of
dee some ma grtpped his arm and
pushed the barrel Of a pistol agEinsl
the small OF his back.
"Ye're under arrest for burglaryr'
announced the str1dent voice OF the WI
lage constable, who held the crimina
destnies Of Mouse point somewhere
about his person between his star anC
J his six shooter.
The reporter turned and faeed hin
calmly.
can right, old chap" said he easily
Anything to obEige. But just as sOOI
O. l nnish this message I'll present M
own credentials Keep away for