Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-25


slight. They glanced up from it to see
the doorway swing slowly away as the
room revolved.
Wrapped. by smoke" said the lieu
tenant. He laid warning hand on
DORIS arm. Keep quiet. We've lost
our directions and we must wait mo-
ment till we discover where that door
way is
So they stood hesitant for a few Sec
onds. A panel Slipped open in the
wall and II womam's face appeared for
an instant. Swift ais the Chinawoman
was. the police officer was quicker and
he plunged through the shallow panel,
with Dorr at his shoulder.
Once through they paused in the
senidarkness to orientate themselves.
Finally the lieutenant stepped forward.
"l'his way" he said. II hear voices"
AT that very moment there came up
to them an unearthly scream. a Shrek
of pure terror.
Ruth" John yelled, and he and the
officer both plunged forward
Instead of the firm footing they ex-
pected empty air received them. Twen-
ty feet below they struck the water.
SpIuttering and swearing. tie police
man helped Dorr to II little ledge that
ran alongside the tunnel.
Tile miserable Chink dropped us
into the big sewer" he gasned. lit
runs into the bay just little ways
on. Well have to swim for it, part.
ner."
Dorr looked down ut his arm and
shook his head. Isn't that u boat
over there:" lie demanded. pointing
into the shadow
BLAMED if it amt" said the lieuten-
ant. much relieved. Well soon he
out OF here"
In spite of his wound Dorr insisted
on rowing, and the officer philusopl-
ically allowed him to. seating himself
gingerly in the stern Of the little craft
and Tending it off the brick wallis of
the tunnel with his hands as the swift
current drew them onward.
To John the whole affair seemed like
dream. He saw the great dripping
arches sliding past overhead to join
the long vista of arches that bridged
the gilnlnerng water which Spllshed
gently along To the call OF the tide: lie
saw the dark bulk of the lieutenant in
the stern: he felt the lpain of bis wound;
he still heard Ruth's wild call for help.
But it was all unrelated, as if each
We're Il fact by itself. isolated He
struggled to gather his senses together.
"Look OUT shouted the policeman
suddenly as the great half cylinder
curved sharply and a blast of fresh air
struck them. We'll be swept out into
the bay. Keep the boat TRIM"
Awakened by this warning. John de.
voted himself to his oars and half
moment later steered their little craft
out under the piles of wharf.
Where to now" he demanded duly.
The lieutenant pointed IL thick fore
finger toward another small boat a
few rods away. There is Sing Wab
now. by smoke" lie exclaimed.
John Dorr glanced around He first
saw the impassive viSage of the Chi
nese and then the figure crouched in
the stern sheets. 1t was Ruth. He
raised his voice in Il triumphant yell.
Hearing that call from her mate. the
girl reused herself and cried back
across the water: John. john"
At this point the police officer took
part with a stern order to Sing Wah
to stop rowing and surrender. He en-
phasized this command by covering
the Chinese with his revolver.
Sing Wab was of no mind to be
caught in this way. With Il dexterous
sweep of the oars he swirled his little
skiif around so that Ruth was between
him and the other boat. and he never
ceased to pull doggedIy away.
You've got to row, son." said the
lieutenant grimly. MIR. Sing Wan
doesn't intend to be caught SO easily.
l daren't shoot for fear of hitting the
girl"
John saw the reasonableness of this
and bent to his oars without regard
to his wound. The boat surged
through the water after the other.
With n good lead Of a hundred yards
Sing Wah stood IL fair show of gaining
his object Il landing under some
wharf and Il quiet escape. He knew
that if he were to fall into the hands
of the police under the present cir
cumstances he would he treated mer-
cilessly. He rowel furiousiy.
Eut the Chinese had long since ceas-
ed active life. and his muscles We're
soft. John Dorr steadily gained ON
him. Slowly he crept up. foot by foot.
inch by inch. his eyes fixed on the
steady figure of the officer in the stern
AT lart he caught encouragement
from the policeman's face. He heaved
the skiff fairly out of the water. grasp
ed the stern of the other boat and be-
fore the Chinese could clear himself
for leap overheard was upon him.
Now. Sing Wah was u true oriental.
1t showed in his swift drawing of n
knife and a swifter slash at John
DORIS arm But he was too late. With
an inarticulate roar of rage John flung
the knife overheard and then flung its
owner after it.
Sing Wah gone and swimming away
toward the shelter of nearby wharf.
John strobe back to where Ruth lay
half inanimate and picked her up in
his arms.
Honey! Honey" he murmured
you're safe with me!'
Very slowly she opened her eyes and
gazed long and searchingly into his
face. 1t was indeed true that she was
safe. She laid her head on his shout
der in perfect confidence that all was
well. The police lieutenant stepped
into the boat and took the oars.