The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-21

| harbor and aimed for the first wnart
that promised a fair landing on the
main waterfront Of the city.
There was neither q policeman nor
a Waterman OF any sort in sight
Nor was there, for all his hopes ana
prayers, based on the telegram 70
Digby, a sign OF n motor car.
sim. not much OF the street was
revealed. The docks on either hano
were walled and rooted. cutting on the
view.
II they ran for II, they must surely
be overhauied. Something must be
done to hinder the crew OF the
schooner from landing.
"Herel" he cried sharply 70 Barcus.
you take Rose and hurry TO the
street and find that motor-car. |
know she's there. Digby never failed
me yeti"
But you--
Don't waste time worrying about
me. I'll be with you In three shakes
I'm only going to put a spoke In Ju'
dith's wheel. I've got a schemel"
As for his scheme-he had none
other than to give them battle, TO sac
rifce himself II need be. to make sure
the escape OF Rose.
Sheer luck smiled on him to this
extent. that In turning his eye lighted
on n four.foot length OF stout, three
inch scantllng. an excellently for
midable club.
hut soon, disarmed, his case was
desperate-and there were two al
ready safe upon the dock and others
madly scrambling up to reinforce
them.
Wildly he cast about for some sub
stitute weapon, he leaped toward a
small pyramid OF little but heavy kegs.
and SELLING one, swung Il overhead
and cast II full force into the mldrif
Of his nearest enemy, so that this n
doubled UP convulsively, with a sick.
ish grunt. and vanished In turn over
the end Of the wharf.
His fellow followed with less injury.
But Alan had no time TO wonder
whether the nan had tripped and
thrown himself In his effort TO escape
q second hurtling keg. or had turned
coward and fed. II was enough that
he had returned, precipitately and
heavily. TO the schooner.
The keg. meeting with no resistance.
pursued him even to the deck. where
the force OF It's impact split It's seams.
None Of the combatants. however.
Alan least OF all. noticed that the pow.
der that filtered out was black and
coarse.
In the same breath he heard a
friendly voice shout warning far up
the dock. and knew that Barcus vas
coming to his aid.
A glance over.shoulder. too. discov.
cred the cause OF the warning; two
men who had thus far escaped his
attentions were ~maneuvering TO fall
upon him from behind. The bound
required TO evade them brought him
face TO face with Judith as she landed
ON the dock.
oh" she cried. Il hate you. l hate
YOU"
80 you've said. my dear, but"
His final words were not audible
even TO himself. In his confidence
NOW that Barcus VAS taking care OF
the others) and his impotence with
the woman. and in his perhaps un.
worthy wish to demonstrate conclu.
siyely how cheap he held her, Alan
had tossed the pistol over the end Of
the wharf.
II u an old.fashioned weapon, and
the force with which IL struck the
deck released the hammer.
Instantly the ~ cartridge blazed
into the open head OF a broken powder
key.
And with a oar like the trump OF
doom and a mighty gust OF fame aud
smoke the decks Of the schooner were
riven and shattered; her masts tot.
tered and fell