Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-08-24

DTODDeQ IL
She had acted not minute TOO
soon. Down the passageway, already
he could hear some one creeping
stealthily. 1t was the Chinaman with
his murderous knife. She heard MN
pause at the door as he looked again
at his knife. Then the lock turned.
The door creaked But she had
propped the chair we'll. and 1t held
Just then she heard loud report
outside. and an instant later another.
Then followed the crash of something
heavy on the deck above accompanied
by a volley of vile oaths and quick
footsteps, as Gregor gave hasty orders
to his crew.
The Chinaman at the door redoubled
his efforts. He seized a fire ak hang
ing near by and attacked the door
with that, hacking furiously.
One after another. the table, chest,
everything movable, Elaine piled up
against the door as it splintered. But
it was of no use.
She moved over fearfully as far away
as she could to the portfolio and looked
at the black water, as she leaned far
out. then I'D at the deck only a rev
feet above her.
With frantic strength born of fear
the heroic girl wriggled out of the port
hole, as the schooner heeled over and
managed just to catch the scuppers
of the deck. Fear lent her strength
She succeeded in pulling herself up to
the rail and then over on the deck
Just as the piled-up furniture tumbleo
over after the door gave way.
The Chinaman. Infatuated, caught
Just a glimpse of her through the port
hole, turned and rushed for the stair
way.
In the commotion Elaine had actual
ly come over the rail unobserved. But
she knew that she could not be that
way long. There was just a chance
that white man might heed her ap-
peal. Forbidding though he was even
In the moonlight, Elaine started to-
ward Gregor.
Just then the maddened face of the
Chinaman appeared at the hatch. A
moment later his 1.-THE body wormed
itself out on deck. AS he came near
err, Elaine retreated further toward
Gregor.
'Oh, sir" she pleaded, save me! /
have done nothing"
Gregor, one eye on the approaching
revenue cutter, the other on his. ship
and crew, had not seen her till then.
Get out of the way" he growled
roughly, pushing her aside. Save
yourself"
The Chinaman came step nearer,
knife appraised She fled along the
deck. There in the shrouds was lad
der. In desperation she seized rung,
swung herself around, and started up
Her relentless pursuer followed,
hand over hand, clenching the knife
in his teeth. In her terror she tore
off piece of spar that had been loos-
ened by a shot from the cutter and
threw it full in his face.
Still, on he came. She drew herself
up. There was no escape. A moment
she trembled aloft.
Then, from crosstree, she jumped,
diving far out into the water. The
Chinaman followed.
Hand over hand he churned the
waves after her.
We were now nearing a low, rakish
craft. Though we signaled it, they
paid no attention. Instead, we could
hear the chug-chug of an auxiliary gas
engine.
Brainard sent a shot across the
schooner's bow Still she did not stop.
Instead, the topsails broke out in
spite of the gale and she headed away
faster.
Another shot flashed out from our
gun. This time a spar was carried
away. as the searchlight playing on
the schooner clearly showed.
We were rapidly gaining now.
"Brainard-stop firing-for heavens
sake shouted Craig from the bow.
Look"
We followed his finger as he peered
forward tensely.
There in the rigging, hanging peril
ously, was Elaine. She was clinging
there holding Chinaman at bay.
Suddenly we saw her draw herself
up and deliberately dive into the wa
ter The Chinaman dived also Hand
over hand he went after her. We
watched, speechless.
Kennedy turned and seized the rapid
fire gun, whirling it around and aim.
ing carefully
The Chinaman was a powerful swim
mer and was rapidly gaining on
Elaine. We could even see the CLEAN
of the knife in the searchlight Care
fully Craig sighted the gun The mis-
take of hairs breadth meant life or
death.
He fred.
Not minute too soon the shot
ricochetted over the waves. The
Chinaman's arms went up in mute sur
render. His head sank below the sur.
face of the water.
Instantly, Craig and l were leaning
far over the side of the cutter as. with
power OFF, she slipped along, close to
that figure swimming in the cold, black
water. Neither of US paid any atten-
ton to Gregor's frantic signals of sur
render as Brainard covered the
schooner
AS we passed, Craig reached over
and caught Elaine. lifting her bodily
into our boat.
"Oh, CRAIG" she gasped, as Ken
nedy, wrapped his greatcoat about
her.
"Brainard-some hot drinks-quiek,"
he ordered as he carried her, half
fainting, to the cabin.
Thank heaven for the wireless tele-
phone" he muttered as he worked
fraltically f0 hiring har ara,,o5