The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-11-26

while I actually contemplated doing
her the kindness OF tipping you over
into the drink, SOS she could lavish
her tender affections on regular guy
someone able to appreciate her-mean'
ing me, of course. And first thing
know, she ups and points gun at my
! head and tips me overheard, and then
makes a pretty bonfire out of my
sailboat. 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 to
elope with you is fit subject for a
commission de lunatico inquirendo, all
right"
"If you inflicted any such monologue
as that on Judith" retorted Mr.. Law,
u don't blame her for trying to slay
you, and I'm sorry I interfered."
There's gratitude for you!" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. Il risk my
life for you, and you won't even let
me talk about it,!
at isn't your talking I mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make Mr..
Law explained. "Besides-listen!"
For a moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
A silken whisper troubled the 81
lence, little futter Of sound from far
across the waters. Gradually it gath
cred volume, became recognizable as
the lisp Of cautious oars.
I'm going away from here" Mr..
Barcus announced guardedly. and gath
cred his legs under him preparatory
to rising.
Half second" Alan Law insisted,
rising in turn and grasping the other
by the arm. They've got to land
haven't they?-and leave the boat
while they look for US. Well, then,
what's to prevent our hiding in the
dunes and"
In the next breath, Look QUIT" he
shrieked
With no warning whatever, and
within fifty feet of them, a ghastly
flare broke out in full blaze on the
surface of the water, revealing the
shape Of 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 on a polished weapon
in the bow Of the boat, spiteful
tongue Of reddish fame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Barcus, and with sad thud Of disap-
pointment buried itself in the sands OF
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to ac-
ton by the report, the two turned and
pelted off down the beach, to escape
that deadly area of illumination.
Other shots sped after them, but
none was so we'll aimed, and presently,
finding break in the bluff, they
swung off into the grateful shelter of
the night-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded on
the beach, and it's several occupants
four or five of them, all men, appar-
ently-jumping out, set of in pursuit
of the fugitives, following the tracks
in the sand.
The blackness of the night, how
ever, conspired with the savage laby-
rinth of the dunes to save Alan and
his companion.
Within another five minutes-while
still the pursuit foundered and bias
phemed at random a round quarter
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Nj.
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies, like two snakes in the
beach-grass, up the back Of a ten-foot
bluff And presently from its brow
they looked down on the spot where
the dory lay, only its bow out of water,
its stern afloat, under armed guard.
Very slowly and stealthily Alan got
to his feet and swung back over his
shoulder a heavy club Of driftwood
A match spluttered beside the dory
and famed in the still air, relieving
with it's reddish glow a bronzed and
evil visage.
The guard puffed fast and had the
tobacco we'll aglow when the sky took
advantage of his trustfulness and fell
upon him like an avalanche.
simultaneously Alan and Barcus de.
scended the face Of the bluff in two
miniature landslides, dug themselves
out, and by the time the dazed and
disarmed guard had sufficiently recov'
cred to cry out for help the dory was
hundred yards off the beach and
making excellent time in the direction
Of that lonely green light.
They wrought with the oars like
men possessed, yet with a machine
like precision that drove the boat fast
and furiously-without attempt to still
the splashing Of their blades. Con
cealment of their purpose from those
who remained aboard the schooner
was out Of the question. The shouts
the shots, the play of fashlamps
along the beach-as though Bedlam
| had loosed half a dozen lunatic will
O. the wisps upon the holy peace OF
night-must have betrayed the fact
that they had turned the tables long
before the dory left the inshore shoals
The commonest precautions, how
ever, made them pause and rest upon
their oars while yet little way from
their goal.
Only an ominous silence rewarded
the utmost efforts of their strainine
senses; no sound was audible other
than the gentle whine of an ungreasec
block; nothing was visible beyond the
sinister glare Of that almost stationary
green lantern.
What Think" Barcus inquired il
a dubious undertone.
mo telling" Alan replied in the
same manner. "All a chance"
you've got that gun handy?"-witt
reference to the rife Of which they