The Sentinel=record., 1914-09-20
Copyright, 1914, by Louis Joseph Vance
ccontinued From Last sunday) l~oxit seav


 damni"
 That goes double here,' his com panion reioined. And the way l see if, I've got a right to do all the cussing at this iuncture of our heros foolish, but fascinating adventures. I'm the injured party--it was my boat, and now it's gone. I'm broke for fair Geel' he pursued vindictively.
 "Oh, let up, cant you!" Mir 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 I thought butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, and for a while l 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 l 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! We'll, who said she wasn't? Any woman who would consent to elope with you is a fit subject for a commission de lunatico inquirendo, all right"
 "If you inflicted any such monologue as that on Judith" retorted Mir. Law, "I don't blame her for trying to slay you, and I'm sorry I interfered."
 There's gratitude for you!" MT Barcus remarked bitterly. "I risk my life for you, and you won't even let me talk about it!"
 Tt isn't your talking I mind-it's | the everlasting noise you make" MT. Law explained Besides-listen!"
 For a moment the two maintained attentive silence.
 A silken whisper troubled the si- lence, little futter of sound from far across the waters. Gradually it gath cred volume, became recognizable as the lisp of cautious oars.
 '1m going away from here" MT Barcus announced guardedly, ard gath cred his legs under him preparatory to rising
 Half a seccnd," 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 out!" 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 it's occupants the two startled figures on. the beach.
 Before they could stir the weird light glimmered oI q polished weapon | in the bow of the boat, a spiteful ] tongue of reddist flame spat out, a bullet sang between Messrs. Law and Barcus, and with a sad thuG of disap- pointment buried itself in the sands of the wave-eaten bluff behind them. Like twin automatons stirred to ac- hNv ftn rrf h1 I r,E pelted off down the beach, to escape that deadly area of illumination.
 Other shots sped after them, but none was so well aimed, ant presently. finding a break in the bluff, they swung off into the grateful shelter Of the night-wrapred 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- rinth of the dunes to save Alan and his companion
 Within another five minutes-while still the pursuit floundered and blas- phemed at random q round quarter mile to the south-Mr. Law and MT. 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 it's brow they looked down on the spot where the dory lay, only it's bow put of water. its stern afloat, under armed guard
 Very slowly and stealthily Alan got to his feet and swung back over his shoulder heavy club of driftwood.
 A match spluttered besiie the dory and famed in the still air, relieving with it's reddish glow a 5ronzei and evil visage.
 The guard puhed fast and had the tobacco well aglow when the sky took advantage Of his trustfulness and fell i upon hins like an avalanche.
 Simultaneously Alan and Barcus de- seconded the face of the bluff ill two miniature landslides, dug themselves out, and by sthe time the Gazed and
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