The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-02
r.. epyiqas 81

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-fWaltl the latter 4dmonished %
q half. whisper. '.Look there!"
1 Barcns followed the direction Of his
geeture-and was transfixed by the
sight OF rocket spearing into the
n1ght-draped sky from a point inyis.
ible beyond the headland of the light.
house.
The two consulted one another with
startled and fearful eyes.
As with one voice they mnrmured
one word: Judith! To this Alan
added gravely: "or some spy of
hers!" - &. nv, .,5i-
Then rouaing, Alan released his
friend. with a smart shove urging him
across the threshold OF the hotel.
i $50 on" he insisted, Join Rose and
get your supper I'll be with you as
soon as rcan arrange for a boat. Tell
her nothing more than that-that !
thought it unwise to wait until every:
body was abed before looking round"
He turned to find his landlord ap.
proachfng from the direction OF the
hotel barroom. And for the time 1t
seemed that the wind OF their luck
must have yeered to q. tavoring guar.
Ter; for the question was barely ut:
tered before the lanGord lifted Will
Ing voice aud hailed fellow towns
man idling nearby.
@Hey. Jake-come here!"
Introduced as Mr.: Breed, Jake
pleaded guilty to ownership of the
fastest aud stanchest power-cruiser
in the adjacent waters, which he was
ayariciously keen to charter.
They observed haste religiously;
within ten minutes they stood upon q
float at the foot OF flight Of wooden
steps down the side OF the town wharf,
while the promised rowboat OF Mr..
Breed drew in, at most leisurely pace,
to meet them.
Aboard and away from the wharf,
the burden of'Alan's solicitude seemed
to grow lighter with every squeal
OF the greaseless oarlocks, with ey:
cry dip and splash of the blades
which, welded by crew Of villafnous
countenance, brought them nearer the
handsome motorboat which Mr.. Breed
designated as, his :, own. 1t was not
until Alan looked up suddenly to fnd
Mi. Breed covering him with a re-.
yoiver5 OF most. vicious character that
he2had the least Sapprehension OF any
dagger nearer than the offing, where
4 judith lis schooner might be lurking,
| waiting for It's prey to come out and
"a S,a.Sr1,,,If,rs II 7.yEsSS'S!t 80 - 4
mi take that smoney-belt of yours,
young Teller" Mr.. Breed aRpounced,
land {be quick about it-not forgetting
what.s.iias y6drF trousers pocket"
In the passion OF his Indignation
Alan neglected entirely to play the
game by the rules The indifference
he displayed toward the weapon was
I positively unprofessional - for he
knocked it aside us if it had been
nothing more dangerous than a straw
And In the same fiutter OF an eyelast
| he launched himself like wildcat at
the throat of Mr.. Breed.
Before that one knew what was hap
pening he had gone over the ster1
and had inyoluntartlY disarmed hin,
+ self as well. s.
The other two men''made sad bust
ness Of attempting to overpower Mr.
Barcus. In less than a minute they.
were both overheard.
And Just for this" Alan said before
getting out OF carshot-'I'm going t
treat my party to q joy-ride in youl
| pretty powerboat
He concluded this speech abruptly
as'Barcus brought them up under tht
quarter or the power cruiser. hi:
Within two minutes the motor wal;
spinning contentedly,p the mooring hao
been slipped, and the motorboat was
heading out of the harbor.
within five minutes she had left +
well astern and was shooting rapidly
westward, making nothing Of the buf
fets OF very tolerabie sea kicked VI
ythe treshening southwesterly wind
MY friend" observed Alan. "a:
our acquaintance ripens ] am more
ind more impressed that neither Of US
was bern to die q natural death,
whether abed or at the hands OF, tnos.t
who dislike us; but rather to et
hanged as common pirates. is.[
you have the courage OF igno'
rance, Barcus replied coolly; D
youll take the trouble to glance astern1
| promise you sight that will move
youito suspend Judgment for the time e
being. g I re z. "a 'Is u
Al this Alan sat up with aEstart.
Back against the doom OF the Biiza,
beth islands through which they hao
aaylEated while he Nodded. shone the
milkwhite sails ofgans able schooner
Sheets ali ,tant :. and every inch 9oa
canvas raj; with thee beam wind she
tocted.it merrily in their walse-a 81 Y
yer Jet spoutins from her cutwater,
I CHAPTER. XXX '@''