The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-06

enough"
Bannoek? The very man. Well, Mr..
Norton, reporter and amateur detective, I
guess we've got you fast enough this time.
You may may not come back alive. Go
and bring around taxi; some one you can
trust I'll dope the reporter while you're
gone.
Long hours afterward Norton opened his
aching eyes. He could hardly move and his
head buzzed abominably. What had hap
pened? What was the meaning Of this slow
rise and fall of his bed? Shanghaied.
Come out O. that now. ye skulker.' roared
a voice down the companionway
Shanghaied" the reporter murlnured He
sat up and ran through his pockets. Not n
sou-markee. not match even; and a second
glance told him that the clothes he wore were
not his own. They've landed me this time.
Shanghaied. What the devil am l going
to doT"
ID ye hear me? bawled the strident
voice again.
Norton looked about desperately for some
weapon of defense. He saw an engineers
spanner on the floor by the bunk across the
succeeded in obtaining 1t. He stood UP. his
hand behind his back.
IAN right, me bucko, I'll come down an
git ye"
A pair of enormous boots began to appear
down the companionway. and there gradually
rose up from them man as wide as
church door and deep as a well.
Wait moment" said Norton, gripping
the spanner, Let have perfect under
standing right off the bat
Were Eon t have il. matcy, Don't ys
worry none"
Norton raised the spanner and, dizzy as he
was, faced this seafarins Hercules coura-
geously
1--WE been shanghaied, and you know it.
Where are bounda''
Copenhagen"
Well, for a month or more you'll beat me
ND whenever the opportunity offers. But I
merely wish to warn you that if you do
you'll find heap Of trouble waiting for you
the next time you drop your mudhook In
North river
g" Is that sou said the giant, eying the
spaHner and the shaking hand that held It
aloft.
lit is I'll take your orders and do the
best / can because you've got the upper
hand. But, God is witness. you'll pay for
every needless blow you strike. Now what
do you want me to do?"
Lay down that spanner an come on deck.
I'll tell We what t do was gon t whale
tn daylights out o ye: but ye're somethin'
av man. Drop til epanner first"
Norton hesitated. As 1.-THE as tiger the
bulk of man sprang at him and crushed
him to the floor, wrenching away the span
ner. Then the giant took Norton by tne
scruff of his neck and banged him up the
steps to the deck.
81 amt goin' t hurt ye. I had t show
We that no spsnner ever bothered Mike Ban
mock. Now, d. ye know what cooks gal
ley is?'
II do said Norton. breathing hard.
well, nike there an start in with peelin'
spuds, an don't waste em. neither That'n
be all for tn present. Ye were due for a
wallopin', but kinda like yer spunk'
SO Jim stumbled down to the cooks galley
and grimly set to work at the potatoes II
might have been far worse. But here he
was, likely to be on high seas for months.
and no way Of notifying Jones what had
happened. The outlook was anything but
cheerful But vague hopa awoke in his
heart. II they were still after him, might it
not signify that Florence lived.
Meantime Braine had not been idle. Ac-
eordng to yroon the girls memory in
bad shane; so he had not the least Goubt Of
bringing ner back to New York without mis-
hap Once he had her there, the game would
begin In earnest. He played his cards ex-
ceedingy we'll. Steaming up into the little
fishing harbor with a handsome yacht in
itself would allay any distrustAr And he wore
a capital disguise, too Everything went well
till he laid his hand on Florence's shoulder.
She gave startled cry and ran over to
Barnes, clnging to him wildly.
mo, nor she said.
mo what, my childT' asked the sailor.
She shook her head. Her aversion was In
explicable-
Come, my dear; can't you see that II Is
your father?" Braine turned to the captain.
She has been like this for year. Heaven
knows II she'll ever be in her right mind
again." sadly. II was giving her an ocean
voyage, with the kindest nurses possible, and
yet she jumped overheard. Come Florence"
The girl wrapped her arms all the tighter
around Barnes neck
An idea came into the old sailors head.
f." OF course, sir, we got proof tibet she's your
daughterT'
proof" Brane was taken aback.
Eyes; somethin' t prove tibet you're her
fathar orr sL;ooad art ~ n oIono nnna