The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-04-07

BIye. wilkins. get downstairs. You
can fill those boats in the water" And
he looked out across the waves. The
escaping beauty was rounding the
point.
In the pretty apartments which Ned
and June Warner had fitted up to be
their nest Ned rose from the couch
where he had fallen asleep with the
miniature of June in his hand and rec
ognized the rasping voice of Honoria.
well. we've located your darling!
And there was a shrill cackle- shes
on board the Hilarity with my hus
band. And the yacht is anchored out
side the bay. Good morning"
Ned wasted no time. Bobbie Bleth
ering had stanch little boat, and Bob
bic was routed out of bed Immediately.
yawning and wondering why the world
could never be at peace. But he was
ready. though it took his agitated wife.
Iris, seven minutes to make him COM
prehend that the Hilarity was boat
She had to suppress all her ebullient
emotions to do it, but she relieved her
self somewhat by telephoning June's
mother and father at their beautiful
home in Brynport.
AS the sun pushed its scarlet rim up
into the edge of the dawn and stared
In pleased surprise at the beautiful
girl who was speeding toward the
marshy shore low. gray skiff with
portable motor attached to its stern
skipped in and out of the dimness
among the black bulls at the rivers
edge. In the skiff were three rough
looking men and a roughly dressed
woman, who sat huddled in the bow.
ALI four were silent, but their furtive
eyes roved constantly over every YES
sci around which they crept. In the
bottom of the boat were a huge bundle
of celery and loosely piled tarpaulin.
Suddenly the woman leaned forward
and touched the nearest man on the
knee. He was a big. rawboued man
with u bronzeG face and Il deep scar
on his chin. The woman pointed, and
the man turned his evil eyes in that
direction. Surrounded by black coal
| barges was a shining houseboat with
brass rails, mahogany cabin and all
the fittings and appointments which
extravaganza could devise.
The man at the stern, a lean. wiry
fellow with a hooked nose and lean
| jaw which ended in a big knob on each
cheek, slowed down the engine until
it was noiseless. They completely
circled the two adjoining docks before
they came back to the slip where coal
barges lay; then the skiff glided in
beneath the overhang of the barges
and the big man with the scar on his
chin knocked on the hull. No noise
from within. The man picked up q
club and pounded. No stirring.
There was not a living creature in
sight except these four early morning
birds of prey.
"All right, Babe" growled the man
with the scar on his chin.
The woman looked up at the house
boat as if she were estimating fol
herself its plan, arrangement and al
the mysteries which it might contain
She slowly rose and cast aside hel
shawl. She had been beautiful once
She still bore traces of it. would have
shown more traces had she not beer
unkempt and in frowsy clothing
Its a wonder Jake wouldn't take {
chance on the break-in once in awhile,
she complained Hes as light on hi.
feet as l am"
But L amt SO quick in the head
hastily complimented Jake.
"That'l do"' growled the leader o
the party. up with you, Babe"
The woman shrugged her shoulder
and put her roughly shod foot into tn
big mans outstretched palm. He raise
slowly and lifted the woman straigh
up so that she could draw herself o.
board
She disappeared. The three men sa
silent.
"All right, Ben" The woman's fac
peered over the rail. "SaY, it's mes
selrodeT'
The lean Jake stepped forwar
promptly and climbed up over the bi
mans back. perfectly cOntented no7
that he knew the silken hung house
boat to be empty. The third man wit
little patches of half formed beard o
his face took the rudder; then the hug
Ben jumped up. caught the deck ra
and drew himself upward
For the hundredth time Ned put hi
head out Of the window. At last the
were coming. He seized his coat an
hat hurried down to the street an
jumped into the mechanics seat {
Bobbie Blethering's roadster before
had come to a full stop; then the
turned and whirled away toward ii
docks. Honoria Blye in her electr
coupe was headed for that destination
too. and on the yacht Gilbert Blye wi
experimenting with impatient enere
the loading of the gasoline tanks
the two small boats.
The thoughts of all these peop