Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-23
DEAD RECKONING.

DEAD RECKONING.
Ca Nauset Beach, IN the shank OF a midsummer
ntsht, two mer sprawled on the sands some dis.
lance back nom the water and listened 10 tina
heav- humping of their overtaxed hearts and
painted
Now Hno again would lift his head and stare
out over the black face OF the waters at a little
line OF reddish flames about a mile of shore all
that remained TO witness to the fact that an hour
since, these two had been in command Of as trim
small schooner as ever ventured the coastwise
trip from Portland to New York
As far out again, shone the starboard light OF a
oecalmed schooner whose people had been directly
responsible for the disaster which had overtaken
the smaller vessel
In the course OF time, beginning to breathe with
more ease one OF the two marooned gentlemen said:
cell me, Barcus, what's the nearest symptom OF
civilization"
Chatham village" said Mr.. Barcus six miles
to the nothards and cut OF by an inlet mile or
wide at that"
Mr.. Law groaned soulfully
Then there's the lighthouse on Monomoy Point"
Mr.. Barcus pursued. three miles to the south"
silence commented eloquenty on this asser.
tion broken only when Mr.. Law voiced thought
bred OF long and malignant observation OF tba
schooners green eye:
I'D give deal to know who's aboard that YES
sell"
You don't mean you think your regular young
woman"
IT'S possible. Judith kidnapped Rose in Port.
land. That's not so far from Gloucester; a motor
car could have caught that schooner before she
sailed to waylay us this morning And what better
way 10 take care OF an ablehodied full.tempered
girl you've KIDNAPPED, than to ship her somewhere
by sea, In the care of trustworthy hellions?"
Don't ask me: I've done very little kidnapping
for one OF my years"
For tuppence." said Mr.. Law. I'D risk a swim
on TO that boat and for myself"
For two million dollars would mott" Barcus
anrmed with great decision.
A moment or so later the line Of little flames
went out altogether and unexpectedly and the
owner OF the late Seaventure fancied he could hear
even at that distance, the hiss OF oharred and
smoldering timbers sucked under and drowned ont
Exit he announced plaintively, exit Seaven.
ture, with heroic gesture. r. l. p a good little
ship"
oh let up. can't you!" Mr.. Law exclaimed pssv
ishiy. I'm sorrier than you are-and after ALL it's
my loss: I've got to buy you another boat All
you've lost ia your temper"
And my susceptibility to the charms OF the well.
known sex" Mr.. Barcus corrected Nothing can
ever restore my lost faith In gentle woman's gen.
ueness When you brought that young woman
aboard thought butter wouldn't melt in her mouth
and for while actually contemplated doing her
the Kindness OF tipping you over into the drink
sos she could lavish her tender affections on a reg
uiar guy. someone able to appreciate her-meaninR
me. OF course. And first thing know she ups
and points gun at my head and tips me over
board. and then makes pretty bonfire out OF nv
sailhoat 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 10 elopo
with you is At subject for a commission de
lunatico inquirendo all right"
For moment the two maintained attentive ii.
lence
silken whisper troubled the silence a lttls
hutter of sound from far across the waters Grad.
ualy II gathered volume became recognizable as
the lisp OF cautious oars
I'm going away from here" Mr.. Barcus an,
nd aath Ne
him preparatory TO rising
Half a second" Alan Law insisted rising in
turn and grasping the other by his arm They've
got 10 land-haven't they?-Rnd leave the boat
while they look for Well then, what's to pre-
vent our hiding in the dunes and"
In the next breath. Look outl" he shrieked
With no warning whatever. and within nifty feet
OF them, CHASTITY fare broke out In full blaze on
the surface OF the water revealing the shape OF a
dory which had drawn In unseen under cover OF
the profound darkness, and at the same time dis
covering to its occupants the two startled figures
on the beach
Before they could stir the weird light glimmered
a 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 disappointment buried itself in the
sands OF waveeaten blum behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to action by the
report. the two turned and pelted on down the
beach, 10 escape that deadly area OF illumination
Other shots sped after them. but none so
well aimed; and presently, finding a break IN
the blum. they swung OF into the grateful shelter
OF the nightwrapped dunes
Meantime the dory had grounded on the beach
and its several occupants-four or hVe OF them all
men, apparently-jumping out. set on In pursuit
Of the fugttiyea. following the tracks in the sand
The baekness OF the might, however conspired
with the savage labyrinth OF the dunes 10 save
Elan and his companion.
Within another i've minutss-~hiIs still the pur.