Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-09-04

foolish, but fascinating adventures.
I'm the injured party--it was my boat,
and now it's gone. I'm broke for fair.
Gee!" he pursued vindictively.
"0h, let up, can't you'll" Mr.. Law
exclaimed peevishly. "Im sorrier than
you are and after all, it's my loss;
I've got 20 buy you another boat All
you've lost is your temper"
And my susceptibility to the charms
ST tfa Ieliitnown sex" Mr.. Bafcus
corrected. Nothing can ever restore
my lost faith III gentle woman's gentle
ness. When you brought that young
woman aboard l 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, SOS she could lavish
her tender affections on a regular guy,
someone able to appreciate her-mean-
ing me. of course. And first thing l
know, she ups and points a gun at my
head and tips me overheard, and then
makes pretty bonfire out OF my
sailboat. And all the excuse you can
produce is 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 a
commission de mnatico inQuirendo, all
right"
"If you inflicted any such monologue
as that on Judith" retorted Mr.. Law,
Il don't blame her for trying to Stay
you, and I'm sorry interfered."
"Theres gratitude for you" Mr..
parcus remarked bitterly. 81 risk my
life for you and you won't even let
me talk about it,"
at isn't your talking | mind-it's
the everlasting noise YOU make" Mr.
Law explained. "Besides-listen!"
For a moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
A silhen whisper troubled the 81
lence, little flutter Of sound from far
across the waters. Gradually 1t gath
cred volume, became recognizable as
tie 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 a second" 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, ant
within fifty feet Of them, a CHASTITY
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 its occupants the two
startled figures on. the beach
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 wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to &C
ton 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 well aimed, and presently
finding 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 fugitiyes, 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 ant
his companion.
Within another five minutes-whil'
still the pursuit floundered and bias
phemed at random round quarter
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr.
Barcus were noiselessly squirming OF
their bellies, like two snakes in thu
beach.grass, up the back of ten-foo
bluff And presently from Its brow
they looked down on the spot wher'
the dory lay only Its bow out Of water
Its stern afoat, under armed guard
Very slowly and stealthily Alan go
to his feet and swung back over hi
shoulder heavy club of driftwood.
A match spluttered beside the dor
and famed in the still air, relieving
with its reddish glow bronzed an
evil visage.
The guard puffed fast and had tn
tobacco well aglow when the sky too
advantage Of his trustfulness and fel
upon him like an avalanche.
simultaneously Alan and Barcus d.
seconded the face of the bluff In tw
miniature landslides, dug themselve
out, and by the time the dazed an
disarmed guard had sufficiently recoN
cred to cry out for help the dory wa
hundred yards off the beach an
making excellent time in the directio
Of that lonely green light
They wrought with the oars lik
men possessed, yet with machine
, like precision that drove the boat fas
and RECONSIDERATION attempt to sti
the splashing OF their blades. Cor
. cealment of their purpose from thos
! who remained aboard the schoone
a was out of the question. The shouts
the shots, the play OF flashlamp
: along the beach-as though Bedlal
A had loosed half dozen lunatic wi
hn hn1xt 4