The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1915-01-13
Copyright, 1914, BY Louis JOSEPH vanoe

ana commented SOulIully: Oh
damn"
THAT goes double here" his COM
panion rejoined. And the way I
see it, I've got a right to do all the
cussing at this juncture Of our heros
foolish, but fascinating adventures.
I'm the injured party-it was my boat,
and nrsH it's gone. I'm broke for fair.
Gee!" he pursued vindictively.
ooh, let up, can't you'll" 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
yot We lost is your temper"
And my susceptibility to the charrls
of the well-known sex" Mr. Barcus
corrected. Nothing can ever restore
my lost faith in gentle womans gentle
ness. When you brought that young
woman aboard / thought butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth, and for
while l actually contemplated doing
! her the kindness OF tipping you over
| into the drink, SOS she could lavish
her tender Affections Oh q regular guy,
someone able to appreciate her-mean-
ing me, of course. And first thing /
know, she ups and points gun at nay
head and tips me overheard, and then
makes a pretty Bonfire out of my
sailboat And ali the excuse you can
produce is that She's crazy in the
head! Well, who said she wasn't?
Any woman whc would consent to
elope with ycu IS 2 fit subject for
m-nission de luna tico inquirendo, ,aH
right"
eff you inflicted cry such monolosue
as that on judith" retorted Mr. Law,
Il don't blame her for trying to Say
you, and I'm sorry interfered"
There's gratitude for you!" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. 81 risk my
life for you, and you won't even let
me talk about it!''
at isn't your talking I mind-fG's
the everlasting noise you make" Mr..
Law explained Besides-listen!"
For a moment the two maintained
! attentive silence
A silken whisper troubled the 81
lence, little futter of sound from fsr
across the waters. Gradually it gath
cred volume, became recognizable ss
the lisp of cautious oars.
"Pm going away from here" Mx
Barcus announced guardedly, and gath
cred his legs under him perpetrators
to rising.
Half a second" Alan Law insisted,
rising in turn and grasping the other
by the arm. "They@e got to land
haven't they9-and 9eave the boat
while they lock for 1us. Well, then,
what's to prevent QUIZ hiding IN the
dunes and"
In the next breath, Look tout." he
shrieked
With mo waning whatever, and
within fifty feet tof them, a CHASTITY
flare broke out in full blaze ON the
surface eff 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 glinmered on polished weapon
In the bow of the boat, a spiteful
tongue of reddish fame spat out, a
bullet sang between Messrs. Law and
Barcus, and with a sad thu6 of disap-
pointment buried itself in the sands Ct
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to ac
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 nfght-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-
rfnth of the dunes to save Alan and
his companion
Within another five minutes-while
still the pursuit foundered and BIAS
phemed at random round quarter
mile to the south-Mr Law and Mr..
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies, like two snakes in the
beach-grass. up the back OF a ten-foct
bluff. And presently from it's brow
they looked down on the spot where
the dory lay, only its bow out 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 beside the dory
and famed in the still air, relieving
with it's reddish glow a bronzed and
evil visage.
The guard pulled fast and had the
tobacco well aglow when the sky took
advantage of his trustfulness and fell
upon him ike an avalanche.
Simultaneously Alan and Barcus de-
1%@ Il. e.