The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-10-26
CHAPTER TX.
A Stern Chase.

Miss Irene Courtier, if such were
her name, rose from her couch in an
upper room in the Hardin cottage
with an agility that gave no hint of
disabled ankle.
At last she spied knot in one of
the floor boards. She procured nail
| file from her handbag and within a
few moments had removed the knot
from it's containing hole. Then she
treated herself to view of the room
| below.
She perceived that a celebration
| was in progress. Upon the table was
| a birthday cake with eighteen candles
in it, and about the table were four
| people. Annette, the center of attrac-
ton; Neal and his mother and his
foster brother, Joe Welcher.
Mrs. Hardin stepped to cupboard
| and drew forth paper bundle. She
placed it on the table and by the light
of the eighteen candles she unwrapped
| it, exhibiting to Annette Ilington and
to the boys set of childish garments,
a heavy leather bag, that clinked as
| she laid it down, and mysterious
looking yellow packet, sealed with red
! sealing wax She unpinned from
diminutive dress a piece Of paper
which she read aloud.
| The listener above started as the
note was read. 1t was strange note
it contained both a promise and a
warning.
Look" said Annette suddenly, as
she examined her possessions, here
is locket."
In it there was a picture Of man.
"My father" said Annette, "I am
sure it is my father. Where is he
when will he come for me?"
| Suddenly Welcher started forward.
Godfrey he cried, did you hear
that"
"It's shot from a small-bore gun"
said Neal. Come on, Joe Welcher,
Tets go out and see"
The shot was the indirect result of
the raid upon the gangsters of the
Side Pocket"
For an hour at least government
destroyer with United States revenue
officers aboard had patrolled the coast
waiting for the signal arranged as
per the unsigned bit of paper taken
from the coat pocket of Shorty.
The signal was flash flare. The
destroyer waited for it. Suddenly an
officer held up his hand.
| There, close in shore"
A light flashed forth into the night.
Nov, we've got them where we
want them" said the officer. Man
the launch and get away as quietly as
| possible"
| Meantime Hernandez and his two
companions, Ponto and the brute,
waited with the patience of adventur-
ers for the replying signal. They
were anchored in speedy motor boat
in small cove to the south of Sea-
port. Receiving no answer to their
| signal they flashed another flare into
the darkness. Once more they were
| disappointed. Suddenly Hernandez
| sprang to the engine and turned it
| over.
Steer an even course down shore"
| Hernandez cried to Ponto. Keep out
| Of the open. If they press us we can
| land and make a getaway"
The commander of the destroyer
| glanced through his glasses.
That's a bad crowd" he said, "a
desperate bunch. Send up gunner.
| think I'll take a chance"
| They sent up a gunner and he took
a chance. The bow of the motor boat
! flew into space. Hernandez and his
| gang were plunged into sea.
With one accord Hernandez and his
| two companions struck out for the
shore.
| At the Hardin cottage, at the sound
of the shot, Neal and Annette had
rushed forth with Joe Welcher close
third.
Come on, Joe," said Neal. "Stay
where you are, Annette"
But Annette, always venturesome,
insisted upon keeping them company.
| They had not gone twenty PAGES when
| something happened. There was
sudden rush from down the road and
man, his breath coming quick and
| fast, darted upon them, passed them,
| and was away in an instant. But In
that instant he had accidentally or by
esting experiments. An ordinary