The Monticellonian., 1915-08-19


 "Hello-hello-Cra
 It was her last chance. Would it work?
 By this time we had come in the revenue cutter to the old dock that was known as the Van Dort jetty.
 As We swung around to it, with Ken nedy and Brainard 1 leaped out We gazed about, hunting for signs of the opium smugglers. All was as still as a grave, except for the ominous lap ping of the waves.
 I happened to look down at the ground There in the light of the Ian tern l saw one of those square-toed footprints which we had come to know so well-the print of a Chinese shoe
 The footprints led up from the dock to an old, deserted, dilapidated house We paused a moment before 1t. Just then a door opened and a Chinaman appeared.
 With a cry he darted back, but we were at him. There were others in side, too, but they were easily over powered
 Prodding the reticent Celestials, we retraced our steps to the jetty, Brain ards men carrying the opium. At the dock we loaded our prisoners and the contraband on the cutter.
 It was plain that although Ye had captured the dope, the ship which hao brought it had escaped, and, worst oi all Wu had again slipped through our fingers.
 Brainard gave the order, and We left the wharf. As we stood gazing from the captured opium to the prison CTS, Brainard was visibly elated Shake" he said laconically to Craig
 Whether it was that he was dis appointed at the failure to land Wu or whether he had premonition that all was not well, somehow Kennedy did not share the elation. He extend. ed his hand mechanically.
 Just then a buzz, as if bell had rung startled us. It was so unexpeet- ed that 1 exclaimed, although the next minute 1 realized that it was from the wireless telephone Craig had asked me to bring from the laboratory.
 Kennedy seized the box, opened it hastily and clapped the little receiver to his ear
 ..Hello-hello-yes, this is Craig Where are you-what? ?s
 Of course We could hear only one side of the conversation, but from the look of intense horror that passed over Kennedy's face knew that some thing terrible must have happened to Elaine.
 But at Craigs next words l myself gasped.
 If you can get a light" he almost shouted, thrust 1t out of the porthole to guide us. But we'll find you any, way Keep up your nerve.
 We crowded about him.
 "Rrainard = pair of glasses = quick" he cried. dashing to the bow of the cutter, and full speed down the bay
 Briefly, as he swept the horizon ahead, he repeated the tale of Elaineis Kidnapping
 We strained our eyes.
 That's -Brainard-more speedi F" cried Craig at last.
 Far off almost out on the ocean, we could see a tiny twinkle of light slow ly waving back and forth.
 
 In her prison Elaine had talked to Craig, afraid to raise her voice too high.
 As she heard Kennedy's instruc- tions, she replaced the receiver and rose quickly to her feet from beside the suitcase. She looked about. There was a dingy oil lamp suspended from a beam of the deck above.
 She seized it and ran to the port hole Back and forth she waved it as far as her arms would permit. As the schooner now slipped along, Gregor, who had left the man at the wheel, was gazing off, not particularly happy at the prospect of not touching a port for a long time again. Sudden ly he became aware of a peculiar, though slight, gleam on the water He leaned over the rail farther. Below and a bit forward of him he could catch a glimpse of a light moving along the side of the boat
 "Confound that wench!" he nut ftrr f11r ipc seizing up a boathook lying on the deck.
 Raising it, he leaned far over the rail. Then he brought the boathook down suddenly on the lamp. smashing it into a thousand bits as they hissed into the water.
 Elaine drew back in horror. In her hand was merely the handle of the lamp. It seemed as if her last hope had been blasted.
 "Cap'n-look over the stern-to port" cried one of the men on watch
 He pointed. and Gregor raised his glass as the rest. including the China man to whom Wu had entrusted Elaine, crowded about.
 There was a searchlight sweeping the water, as if fast boat were hunt. ing for something and were rapidly overhauling them.
 It's a revenue cutter" growled Gregor, lowering his glass after a quick scrutiny of the mysterious craft Crowd on more sail-start the aux Hilary motor"
 He volleyed forth his orders hoarse. ly. Instantly the deck was in an up roar. For the moment. in their anxi- ety to escape, they seemed to have forgotten Elaine-all except the Chinaman who had been set to guard her Silently he drew from his blouse a knife and slipped down the eompan- in,