Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-06-25

venture outside as someone might see
me IL did"
When her father had gone she sat
for long time looking at Harcourt.
He was quiet now and his pulse was
beating more evenly. Gradually as
she watched him a drowsiness came
over her. and as the day frightened
she dropped off into a restless sleep.
Several hours passed before she
awoke. Then, with sudden start,
and a sense of surprise and fear, she
sat up quickly. 1t was almost dark
in the little shanty, but through the
cracks in the rough boards she could
see the sunlight streaming in. A
vague sense of uneasiness gripped
her, and she reached out to grasp the
revolver at her side. She turned to
look at Harcourt, but he lay quietly
and she noticed the faint rise and fall
Of his chest as he breathed evenly.
Although she listened intently she
heard no sound but the roar OF the
sea and the faint rustling of the tall
grass about the hut. But somehow
she seemed to feel instinctively the
presence of someone lurking outside.
Cautiously she crept toward the
rude door and pushed it open crack,
holding the revolver tightly in her
hand, ready for instant use. A pistol
was familiar toy in her hand, and
she had the confidence of knowing
that she could use it well, but there
was no one within the range of her
vision. Then, as her eyes dropped to
the sand before the door, she started
violently and little tremor passed
through her tense body.
Drawing back hastily, she pulled the
door nearly shut and peered about its
edge. There on the sand directly in
front of the shack were a mans
tracks, and within reach of her hand
was the impression of a great bare
foot.
She was positive they had not been
there when she had entered with her
father, and feeling of nervousness
came over her. The footprint might
be that of wandering fiashmen, but
1t seemed more likely to her that
someone had opened the door and
looked in, and it occurred to her that
his doing so might have awakened
her. Even now he might be concealed
behind the sand dunes close by.
Leaning back against the shanty
wall she thought for moment. Then.
as the uncertainty grew too great
to bear, she boldly threw open the
door and stepped out, her finger
firmly pressed against the trigger of
the revolver. She glanced about
quickly, but saw nothing to arouse
further suspicion. Still she was not
satisfied. Advancing a few steps far
ther she passed out to the fiat stretch
of beach and looked down toward the
inlet where they had landed. little
cry escaped her as she saw the launch
they had left there putting slowly out
through the narrow channel Three
figures were crouching down in the
stern and in the bottom of the boat
she could see some heavy bale-like
object. The launch was outside the
inlet now and was swinging about to
the north, where there was a sharp
bluff marking an abrupt turn in ihe
coast. y,
Spellbound, she stood looking after
the little craft, unable to understand
the meaning of what she saw or to
figure out who could be making off in
that way. She could only see the
backs of the three men and they were
now too far away for her to have rec,
ognized them even if their faces had
been turned toward her
Suddenly, as she watched, she be.
came conscious of a figure coming
from the left, down close by the
waters edge. Just as she turned to
look in that direction a second figure
appeared, and she saw them both
point excitedly after the launch.
Then the two started off up the
beach on a run. Fascinated she stood
watching them hurry along. curious
as to what it all meant, and not in
the least frightened. There seemed
to be something strangely familiar
about one of the men, but at first
she could not make out what 1t was
In another moment, however, his iden
tity flashed across her mind, and she
knew the man was MacBee.
The recognition gave her a start
as she realized the danger of his pres
ence. She gave no thought to the
reasons of his being there, nor tt
who he might be pursuing in the es
Gaping launch. Her one thought was
to keep Harcourt concealed, and she
: closed the door hurriedly, barring i
as best she could with the rough sticl
that served for a bolt.
Peering through the boards sh,
: watched the inspector and his com
panion, who were still running rapid
ly. In another moment they had dis
appeared around the bluff and, will
the launch, were concealed from view
: When they had gone she turned t
: look at Harcourt, lying helpless ant
unconscious of it all. For the frs
time she felt glad that he could no
know, for she realized that she coul'
not have kept him there If he hat