The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-01-07
Copyright, 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance

u commented soulfully: Oh
damn"
That goes double here" his CON-
panion rejoined. And the way l
see It, I've got q right to do all the
cussing at this tuncture OF our hero's
foolish, but fascinating adventures.
I'm the injured ~party-it was my boat.
and 10Y it's gone. I'm broke for fair.
Gee!" he pursued vindictively.
ooh, let up, can't you'll" Mr.. Law
exclaimed peevishly. I'm sorrier than
you are-and after all. it's my loss;
I've got to buy o another boat. All
you've lost is your temper"
And my susceptibility to the charms
Of the ~well-known sex" Mr.. Barcus
corrected. Nothing can ever restore
my lost faith In gentle woman's gentle
ness. When you brought that young
woman aboard | thought butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth, and for a
while l actually contemplated doing
her the kindness OF tipping you over
into the drink, SOS she could lavish
her tender affections On a regular guy,
someone able to appreciate her-mean-
ing me, of course. And first thing I
know, she ups and points a gun at my
head and tips me overheard, and then
makes a pretty bonfire out Of my
sailboat. And all the excuse you can
produce is that she's crazy in the
head! Well, who said she wasn't?
AnU mornon Whn uynu1d pnncnnf IN
elope with you is a fit subject for a
commission de lunatico inquirendo, all
right"
eff you inflicted any such monologue
as that on Judith" retorted Mr.. Law,
81 don't blame her for trying to Stay
you, and I'm sorry l i~nterfered."
There's gratitude for you!" Mr..
Barcus remarked bitterly. 81 risk my
life for you. and you won't even let
me talk about it,"
ut isn't you talking I mind-it's
the everlasting noise you Make Mr..
Law explained. "Besides-listen!"
For a moment the two maintained
attentive silence.
A silken whisper troubled the 81.
lence, a little fiutter Of sound from far
across the waters. Gradually it gath.
cred volume, became recognizable as
the lisp of cautious oars.
I'm going away from here" Mr..
Barcus announced ~guardedly, and gath.
cred his legs under him preparatory
to rising.
Half a second" Alan Law insisted
rising in turn and grasping the other
by the arm. They've got to land
haven't they?-and leave the boat
while they look for us. Well, then,
what's to prevent our hiding in the
dunes and"
In the next breath, Look Quit" he
shrieked.
With no warning whatever, and
within fifty feet Of them, a CHASTITY
flare broke out in full blaze on the
shape of a dory which had drawn in
unseen under cover of the profound
darkness, and at the same time dis
covering to it's occupants the two
startled figures IN the beach.
Before they could stir the weird
light glimmered on a polished weapon
In the bow Of the boat, a spiteful
tongue Of reddish fame spat out, a
bullet sang between Megsrs. Law and
Barcus, and with a sad thud of disap-
pointment buried itself in the sands of
the wave-eaten bluff behind them.
Like twin automatons stirred to &C
ton by the report, the two turned and
pelted off down the beach, to escape
that deadly area Of illumination.
Other shots sped after them, but
none was SO well aimed, and presently.
finding a break in the bluff, they
swung off into the grateful shelter OF
the nigh~t-wrapped dunes.
Meantime the dory had grounded on
the beach, and its several occupants
four or five of them, all men, appar-
ently-jumping out. set of in pursuit
Of the f%ugitives, following the tracks
in the sand.
The blackness Of the night, how.
ever. conspired with the savage laby-
rinth Of the dunes to save Alan and
his companion.
Within another five minutes-while
still the pursuit foundered and bias
phemed at random a round quarter.
mile to the south-Mr. Law and Mr..
Barcus were noiselessly squirming on
their bellies, like two snakes In the
beach-grass, up the back of a ten-foot
bluff. And presently from its brow
they looked down on the spot where
the dory lay, only its bow out of water,
Its stern afloat. under armed guard.
Very slowly and s~tealthily Alan got
to his feet and swung back over his
shoulder a heavy club Of driftwood.
A match spluttered beside the dory
and famed in the still air. relieving
with its reddish glow a bronzed and
evil yisage.
The guard pulled fast and had the
tobacco well aglow when the sky took
advantage Of his trustfulness and fell
upon him like an avalanche.
simultaneously Alan and Barcus de-