The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-03-12

slight. Iney glanced up from II ~ seq
the doorway swing slowly away as the
room revolved. .- -. .-.s.*
Trapped. 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 few Sec
Onds. A panel slipped open in the
wall and woman's face appeared for
an instant. Swift as 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
semidarkness to orientate themselves.
Finally the lieutenant stepped forward.
'"rhis way" he said. II hear voices
At that very moment there came up
to them an unearthly scream, 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.
Spluttering and swearing, the police
man helped Dorr to little ledge that
ran alongside the tunnel
1.-The miserable Chink dropped us
into the big sewer" he gasped. 1T
runs into the bay just a little ways
on. Well have to swim for it, part
ner."
Dorr looked down at his arm and
shook his head. Isn't that a boat
over there?' he demanded, pointing
into the shadow.
Blamed if it ain't,' said the lieuten-
ant. much relieved. We'll soon be
out of here
In spite of his wound Dorr insisted
on rowing. and the officer PHILOSOPHY
ically allowed him to. seating himself
gingerly in the stern of the little craft
and Tending it off the brick walls of
the tunnel with his hands as the swift
current drew them onward.
10 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 glimmering water which splashed
gently along to the call of the tide; he
saw the dark bulk of the lieutenant in
the stern: he felt the pain of his wound;
he still heard Ruth's wild call for help.
But it was all unrelated. as if each
were 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 blast of fresh air
struck them. well be swept out into
the bay: Keep the boat TRIM
Awakened by this warning. John de-
voted himself to his oars and a half
moment later steered their little craft
out under the piles of wharf.
where to now:' he demanded duly.
The lieutenant pointed thick fore
finger toward another small boat a
few rods away. There is Sing Wah
now, by smoke" be exclaimed.
John Dorr glanced around He first
saw the impressive visage of the Chi
nese and then the figure crouched in
the stern sheets. 1t was Ruth. He
raised his voice in a 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 Wah was OF no mind to be
caught in this way With a dexterous
sweep of the oars he swirled his little
skiff around so that Ruth was between
him and the other boat and be never
ceased to pull doSgedly away.
you've got to row. SON" said the
lieutenant grimly. Mr.. Sing Wan
doesn't intend to be caught so easily.
l daren't shoot for fear of hitting the
girl
John SAW the reaSon:,bleness of this
and bent to his oars without regard
70 his wound The boat Surged
through the waiter after the other
With a good read of a hundred yards
Sing Wah stood Il fair show Of gaining
his object-a 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 be treated mer-
cilessly. He rowed furiously.
But the Chinese had long since ceas-
ed active life, and bis muscles were
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 last he caught encouragement
from the policeman's face. He heayed
the skiff fairly out of the water. grasp
ed the stern Of the other boat and be-
fore the Chinese could clear himself
for a leap overheard was upon him.
Now, Sing Wah was true oriental
1t showed in his swift drawing of a
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 it's
! owner after it.
| Sing Wah gone and swimming away
| toward the shelter of a nearby wharf.
John strobe back to where Ruth lay
1