Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-01-01

TO orientate themselves
Finally the lieutenant stepped forward.
''rhis way" be said II bear voices"
At that very moment there came up
tn them an unearthly scream. shrek
Of pure terror.
Ruth John yelled. and he and the
officer 10th plunged forward.
Instead OF the firm footing they cx-
pectcd empty air received them. Twen-
" feet below they struck the water.
Splutterlng and swearing. the police
man helped Dorr to n little ledge that
run alongside the tunnel
The miserable ChInk dropped Us
into the big sewer" he gasped. 1T
runs Into the bay just little ways
ON Wen have 10 swim for IL, part
ner"
Dorr looked down at his arm and
shook his head. Isn't that boat
over thereT be demanded. pointing
into the shadow.
''Rlamed 10 II alnt." said the lieuten-
ant. much relieved "we'li soon be
uut of here"
In spite OF his wound DOrr insisted
on rowing. and the officer philosOph-
tcnlly allowed him to. seating himself
giugerly In the stern OF the little craft
aud Tending II or the brick walls OF
'he tunnel with his hands as the swift
current drew them onward.
To John the whole AFFAIR seemed like
dream. He saw the great dripping
arches sliding past overhead to Join
the long vista OF arches that bridged
the glimmering water which splashed
gently along TO the call of the tide; he
saw the dark bulk of the lieutenant in
the stern; he felt the pain of his wound;-
he still heard Ruth's wild call for help.
But II was all unrelated. as II each
were a fact by itself. Isolated. He
struggled TO gather his senses together
Look OUT shouted the policeman
suddenly as the great half cylinder
curved sharply and a blast of fresh air
struck them. "We'li be swept out into
the bay. Keep the boat trimr'
Awakened by this warning. John de-
moment later steered their little craft
out under the piles of wharf.
where to nowf" he demanded duly.
The lieutenant pointed thick fore
finger toward another small boat q
few rods away. There ls Sing Wah'
now, by smoker he exclaimed.
John Dorr glanced around. He 1rst
saw the impassive visage Of the Chi
nese and then the figure crouched I'm
the stern sheets. IL was Ruth! He
raised his voice In a triumphant yell.
Hearing that call from her mate. the
girl reused herself and cried back
across the water: John! Johnr'
At this point the police officer took
part with a stern order to Sing Wah'
to stop rowing and surrender. He en-
phasized this command by covering
the Chinese with his revolver.
Sing Wah was OF no mind to be
caught in this way. With n dexterous
sweep OF the oars he swirled his little
skiff around 20 that Ruth was between
him and the other boat. and he never
ceased to pull GoggedIy away.
you've got TO row. son." said the
lieutenant grimly. MIR. Sing Wah
doesn't intend to he caught SO easily.
I daren't shoot for fear OF hitting the
girl"
John saw the reasonableness OF this
and bent to his oars without regard
to his wound. The boat snrged
through the water after the other.
With good lead of a hundred yards
Sing Wah stood fair show OF gaining
his object-a landing under some
wharf and n quiet escape. He knew
that IL he were to fall into the hands
of the police under the present cir
cumst9nces he would he treated mer-
cilessly. He rowed furiously.
But the Chinese mad long since ceas-
ed active life. and his muscles were
soft John Dorr steadily gained on.
him. Slowly he crept up, foot by foot.
inch by inch. his eyes fixed on the
steady figure OF the officer In the stern.
| At last he caught encouragement
from the policeman's face. He heaved
the skiff fairly out of the water. grasp
ed the stern of the other boat and be-
] fore the Chinese could clear himself
| for leap overheard was upon him.
Now. Sing Wah was a true oriental.
II showed in his swift drawing OF n
knife and a swifter slash at John
DORIS arm. But he was too late. With
an inarticnlate roar OF rage John nung
the knife overheard and then flung its
owner after IL
Sing Wah gone and swimming away
toward the shelter of a nearby wharf,
/ John strobe back TO where Ruth lay
half inanimate and picked her up in
his arms.
Honey. Honey" he murmured.
You're safe with me-"
Very slowly she opened her eyes and
gazed long and searchlngly into his
face. II was indeed true that she was
safe. She laid her head on his sh0ui-
der I'm perfect confidence tnat all was
we'll The police lieutenant stepped
into the boat and took the oars