The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-17
Copyright, 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance
-. Z" r. a good little ship!"

Alan' Law sat up, abstractedly scrub
oing crust Of sand from his checks
and commented soulfully: oh
damni"
That goes double here" his COM
panion re1oined. and the wav I
see it, I've got a right to do all the
cussing at this juncture of our hero's
1ooilsh, but fascinating adventures.
IN the injured party-it was my boat,
and now it's gone. I'm broke for fair.
Gee!' he pursued vindictively.
ON, let up, can't you!" Mr.. Law
exclaimed peevishly. 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 Is your temper"
And my susceptibility to the charms
OF the well-known SEX" MIR. Barcus
corrected. Nothing can ever restore
my lost faith in gentle woman's gentle
ness. When you brought that young
woman aboard thought butter
wouldn't melt In her mouth, and for a
while / actually contemplated doing
her the kindness Of tipping you over
into the drink, so's she could lavish
Hher tender affections ON regular guy,
someone able to appreciate her-mean-
ing me, of course. And first thing I
know, she ups and points gun at nv
mead and tips me overheard, and then
/ makes pretty bonfire out Of my
sailboat And all the excuse you can
produce ts 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
commission de lunatico inquirendo all
right"
IF you inflicted any such monologue
as that on Judith" retorted Mr.. Law,
Il don't blame her for trying to slay
you, and I'm sorry interfered."
There's gratitude for you'll" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. 81 risk my
life for you. and you won't even let
me talk about it'll"
1T isn't your talking mind-it's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr..
Law explained "Besides-listenI"
For a moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
4 silken whisper troubled the ST.
lence, little fiutter of sound from far
ACROSS the waters. Gradually It gath
'ered 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
py the arm. They've got to land
haven't they?-and leave the boat
while they look for u.s. Well, then,
what's to prevent our hiding in the
dunes and"
In the next breath, Look outl" he
shrieked
With no warning whatever, and
within fifty feet Of them, a CHASTITY
fare 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.
p" Before they could stir the weird
light glimmered on a polished weapon
In the bow of the boat, spiteful
tongue OF reddish flame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Barcus, and with sad thud OF disap-
pointment buried itself in the sands of
the waye-eaten bluff behind them.
Like; twin automat6ns stirred to ac-
tion 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.
hnding a 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 its several occupants
four or five Of them, all men, appar-
ently-jumping out, set off in pursuit
OF the fugitives. following the tracks
In the sand.
The blackness OF the night how
ever. conspired with the savage laby-
ninth OF the dunes to save Alan and |
his companion.
Within another Eve minutes-while
Still the pursuit noundered and bias
phemed at random a round quarter |
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr.. |
Barcus were noiseiessly squirming On |
their bellies. like two snakes In tie
beach-grass. up the back Of ten-foot
blum. And presently from its brow
they looked down on tho spot whsro
the dory hay. only It's bow out Of wstar,
its stsrn afoat under armed guard.
Very slowly and stealthily Alan not