The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-05-21

bloody.minded vixen 10 your blushins
.bride-to-be?"
Alan shook . helpless head. The
thing dened reasonable explanation.
He made a feeble stagger at 1t with.
out much satisfaction either to him.
self Or to the outraged Barcus.
"No-it's all q damnable mistake!
She's her sister, mean. the right
girls sister-and her precise double
fooled me-not quite right In the head,
I'm afraid"
you may we'll be afraid, you poor
natl" Mr.. Barcus snapped. "D'you
know what she did? Threw me over.
board! Fact! Came on deck a while
ago, sweet al p~eachee-and all Of q
sudden whips out q gun as big as q
cannon. points it at my head and Or.
ders me to luff into the wind. Before
l could make sure l wasn't dreaming,
she had fired twice-in the ARA sig.
nal to that blessed fisherman astern
there-at least. they answered with
two toots Of a power whistle and
changed course to run up to US. Look
how she's gained already"
But how did she happen to throw
you overboard?"
Happen nothing!" Barcus snapped.
getting to his feet. "She did it
p~urpose-flew at me like a wildcat,
and before l knew what was up-l
was slammed backwards over the
rail-"
Il can't tell you how sorry l am"
Alan responded gravely. There's
more to tell-but one thing to be done
first"
And that?" Mr.. Barcus inquired
suspiciously.
ITO get rid Of the lady," Alan a n
nounced firmly. Make that fisher.
man a present of the woman in the
case. You don't mind parting with
the dory in a good cause-if l pay for
it," ~
Take it for nothing" Barcus
grumbled. Cheap at the price!"
He took Alan's place, watching him
with a sardonic eye as he drew the
tender in under the leeward quarter.
made it fast, and reopened the COM
panionway.
As the girl came on deck with
out other invitation, in a sullen rage
that only heightened her wonderful
loneliness, Alan noted that her first
look was for him, Of untempered ma
lightly; her second, for Barcus. with
a curling lip; her third. astern. with
q glimmer Of satisfaction as she rec.
ognized how we'll the fisherman had
drawn up on the S~eaventure.
Friends Of yours. l infer?" Alan
inquired civilly.
Judith nodded.
Then it would save US some trouble
yourself included-if you'll be good
enough to step into the dory without a
struggle"
Without a word, Judith stepped to
the rail and, as Barcus luffcd, swung
herself oversize into the dory.
Immediately Alan cast off. and as
the little boat sheered of, Barcus,
with a sigh of relief, brought the Sea-
venture once more back upon her
course.
For some few minutes there was 81.
lence between the two men, while the
tender dropped swiftly astern, the
woman plying a brisk pair of oars.
Then, suddenly e%levating his nose,
Barcus shifted audibly. Here" he
said sharply, relieve me for a min
ute. will you? want to go forward
and have a look at that motor"
In the time that he remained invis-
ible between decks the fisherman
luffed, picked up the dory and its
occupant, and came round again in
open chase of the S~eaventure.
When Barcus ~reappeared it was
with a grave face.
1.-The devil and the deep She" he OBJ
served o%bscurely, coming aft, from
all their works, good Lord deliver us!"
whats the trouble nova"
Nothing much-only your playful
little friend has been up to another Of
her light-hearted tricks. . -. II you
-hould happen to want a smoke or
stAlu6 u eau wien you 8o UelO",
t find a mirror and kiss yourself
lobby before striking the match.
The drain-cocks of both fuel tanks
have been opened, and there are up
wards Of a hundred and fifty gallons
Of highly explosive gasoline sloshing
around in the bilge!"
CHAPTER Kill.
No Quarter.