The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-12-15

bloody-minded vixen is your blushirg
bride-to-be?'
Alan shook a helpless head. The
thing def1ed reasonable explanation.
He made feeble stagger at it with
out much satisfaction either to him.
self or to the outraged Barcus
No-it's all a damnable mistake!
She's her sister, mean, the right
girls sister-and her precise double
fooled me-not quite right in the head,
I'm afraid
You may well be afraid, you poor
tat! Mr.. Barcus snapped. "D'you
know what she did? Threw me over
board! Fact! Came on deck a while
ago, sweet as peaches-and all Of a
sudden whips out a gun as big as a.
cannon. points it at my head and or
ders me to huff into the wind. Before
| could make sure l wasn't dreaming,
she had fired twice-in the air-a sig
nal to that blessed fisherman astern
there-at least, they answered with
two toots Of power whistle and
changed course to run UP to u.s. Look
| how she's gained already"
But how did she happen to throw
you overboard?"
Happen nothing!" Barcus snapped,
getting to his feet "She did it a.
purpose-few at me like a wildcat.
and before / knew what was up-I
was slammed backwards over the
rail"
Il can't tell you how sorry l am"
Alan responded gravely. There's
more to tell-but one thing to be done
first"
And that?" Mr.. Barcus inquired
suspiciously.
ITO get rid of the lady" Alan an
nounced firmly. Make that fisher
man a present Of the woman in the
case. You don't mind parting with
the dory in a good cause-if l pay for
it?"
Take it for nothing" Barcus
grumbled. Cheap at the price!"
He took Alan's place., watching him
with sardonic eye as he drew the
tender in under the leeward quarter,
made it fast, and reopened the COM
panionway.
AS the girl came on deck with
out other invitation, in a suHen rage
that only heightened her wonderful
loneliness, Alan noted that her first
look was for him, of untempered ma
lightly; her second, for Barcus, with
a curling lip; her third, astern, with
a glimmer of satisfaction as she rec
ognized how we'll the fisherman had
drawn up on the Seaventure.
Friends Of yours, I infer?" Alan
inquired civilly.
Judith nodded.
Then it would save us some trouble
yourself included-if you'll be good
enough to step into the dory without a
struggle"
Without a word, Judith stepped to
the rail and, as Barcus luffed, swung
herself oversize into the dory.
Immediately Alan cast off, and as
the little boat sheered off, Barcus,
with sigh of relief, brought the Sea
venture once more back upon her
course
For some few minutes there was 81
lence between the two men, while the
tender dropped swiftly astern, the
woman plying brisk pair of oars.
Then, suddenly elevating his nose,
Barcus shifted audibly. Here" he
said sharply, relieve me for a min
ute, will you? I want to go forward
and have look at that motor"
In the time that he remained invis-
IDLE between decks the fisherman
luffed, picked up the dory and it's
occupant, and came round again in
open chase of the Seaventure.
When Barcus reappeared it was
with a grave face.
"The devil and the deep She," he OBJ
served obscurely, coming aft, from
all their works, good Lord deliver us!"
whats the trouble now?"
Nothing much-only your playful
little friend has been up to another of
her light-hearted tricks. If you
should happen to want smoke or
anything to eat when you go below,
just find a mirror and kiss yourself
good-by before striking the match.
The drain-cocks Of both fuel tanks
have been opened, and there are up
wards of hundred and fifty gallons
of highly explosive gasoline sloshing
around in the bilgei"