The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-12-24

lend a helping hand sorely wanted by
Mr.. Barcus in his efforts to climb
aboard, after he had pulled the dory
up under the stern by its painter.
He came over the rail in towering
temper.
Il hope you'll pardon the apparent
impert:nence," he suggested acidly,
as soon ar able to articulate coher-
ently-"but may ! inquire If that
bloody-minded vixen Is your blushins
bride.to.be?"
Alan shook q helpless lead. The
thing dehed reasonable explanation.
He made a feeble stagger at 1t with
out much satisfaction either to him.
self or to the outraged Barcus.
"No-it's all damnable mistake!
She's her sister, mean, the right
girls sister-and her precise double
fooled me-not quite right In the head.
I'm afraid"
you may we'll be afraid, you poor
dat!" Mr.. Barcus snapped. "Dyou
know what she did? Threw me over
board! Fact! Came on deck 2 while
ago, sweet as peachesEand al Of q
sudden whips out gun as big as .
cannon, points 1t at my head and or.
ders me to luft into the wind. Before
could make sure wasn't dreaming,
she had fired twice-in the air-a sig
nal to that blessed fisherman astern
there-at least, they answered with
two toots Of q power whistle and
changed course to run up to US. Look
how she's gained already"
"But how did she happen to throw
you overboard?"
Happen nothing!" Barcus snapped,
getting to his feet "she did it a.
purpose-few at me like q wildcat,
and before ! knew what was up-I
was slammed backwards over the
rail-"
Il can't tell you how sorry I am"
Alan responded gravely. There's
more to tell-but one thing to be done
first"
And that?" Mr.. Barcus inquired
suspiciously.
ITO get rid Of the lady," Alan an
nounced firmly. Make that fisher
man a present Of the woman in the
case. You don't mind parting with
the dory in good cause-if pay for
lt~
Take it for nothing" Barcus
grumbled. Cheap at the price!"
He took Alan's place, watching him
with q sardonic eye as he drew the
tender In under the leeward quarter,
made it fast. and reopened the COM
panionway.
AS the girl came on deck with
out other invitation, in a sullen rage
that only heightened her wonderful
loneliness, Alan noted that her first
look was for him, of untempered ma
lightly; her second, for Barcus, with
curling lip; her third, astern, with
glimmer of satisfaction as she rec.
ognized how we'll the fisherman had
drawn up on the Seayenture.
friends of yours, infer?" Alan
inquired civilly.
Judith nodded.
"Then it would save Us some trouble
yourself included-if you'll be good
enough to step into the dory without Q
struggle"
Without word, Judith stepped to
the rail and, as Barcus luffed, swung
herself oversize into the dory.
Immediately Alan cast of, and az
the little boat sheered of, Barcus,
with sigh of relief, brought the Sea-
venture once more back upon her
course.
For some few minutes there was 81
lence between the two men, while the
tender dropped swiftly astern, the
woman plying brisk pair Of oars.
Then, suddenly elevating his nose,
Barcus shifted audibly. Here" he
said sharply, relieve me for a min
ute, will you? want to go forward
and have look at that motor"
In the time that he remained invis.
ible between decks the fisherman
luffed, picked up the dory and it's
occupant, and came round again in
open chase of the Seaventure.
When Bareus reappeared it was
with grave face.
1.-THE devil and the deep She," he OBJ.
served obscurely, coming aft, from
all their works, good Lord deliver u.s."
Whats the trouble now?"
Nothing much-only your playful
little friend has been up to another of
her light.hearted tricks. If you
should happen to want q smoke or
anything to eat when you go below,
Just find q mirror and kiss yourself
good-by before striking the match.
The drain-cocks Of both fuel tanks
have been opened, and there are up.
wards Of hundred and fifty gallons
Of highly explosive gasoline eloshins
around in the bilge!"
CHAPTER XIII.
No Quarter.
Yes, yes" said Mr.. Barcus indul.