Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-07-17

soon. Down the passageway, already,
he could hear some one creeping
stealthily. 1t was the Chinaman with
his murderous knife. She heard him
pause at the door as he looked again
at his knife. Then the lock turned.
The door creaked. But she had
propped the chair we'll, and it held.
Just then she heard a loud report
outside, and an instant later another
Then followed the crash of something
heavy on the deck above accompanied
by a volley of vile oaths and quick
footsteps, as Gregor gave hasty orders
to his crew.
The Chinaman at the door redoubled
his efforts. He seized a fire ak hang
ing near by and attacked the door
with that, hacking furiously.
One after another, the table, a chest,
everything movable, Elaine piled up
against the door as 1t splintered. But
it was of no use
She moved over fearfully as far away
as she could to the portfolio and looked
at the black water, as she leaned far
out, then up at the deck only a few
feet above her.
With frantic strength born Of fear
the heroic girl wriggled out of the port
hole, as the schooner heeled over and
managed just to catch the scuppers
of the deck. Fear lent her strength.
She succeeded in pulling herself up to
the rail and then over on the deck
just as the piled-up furniture tumbled
over after the door gave way.
The Chinaman, infuriated, caught
just glimpse of her through the port
hole, turned and rushed for the stair
way.
In the commotion Elaine had actual
ly come over the rail unobserved. But
she knew that she could not be that
way long. There was just chance
that white man might heed her ap-
peal Forbidding though he was even
in the moonlight, Elaine started to-
ward Gregor
Just then the maddened face of the
Chinaman appeared at the hatch. A
moment later his 1.-THE body wormed
itself out on deck. AS he came near
er, Elaine retreated further toward
Gregor.
"Oh, sir" she pleaded, Save me! I
have done nothing!"
Gregor, one eye on the approaching
revenue cutter, the other on his ship
and crew, had not seen her till then.
Get out of the way" he growled
pushing her aside. Save
yourself"
The Chinaman came a step nearer,
knife appraised. She fed along the
deck. There in the shrouds was lad
der. In desperation she seized rung,
swung herself around, and started up.
Her relentless pursuer followed,
hand over hand, clenching the knife
IN his teeth. In her terror she tore
off a. piece of spar that had been loos-
sned by a shot from the cutter and
brew it full in his face.
Still, on he came. She drew herself
lp There was no escape. A moment
The trembled aloft.
Then, from a crosstree, she jumped,
living far out into the water. The
Jhinaman followed.
Hand over hand he churned the
waves after her.
We were now nearing low, rakish
raft. Though we signaled 1t, they
'aid no attention. Instead, we could
ear the chug-chug of an auxiliary gas
ngine.
Brainard sent q shot across the
chooner's bow. Still she did not stop.
instead, the topsails broke out in
pite of the gale and she headed away
aster.
Another shot flashed out from our
I'm. This time a spar was carried
way, as the searchlight playing on
he schooner clearly showed.
We were rapidly gaining now.
"Brainard-stop flring-for heavens
ake," shouted Craig from the bow.
Look!"
We followed his finger as he peered
'rward tensely.
There in the rigging, hanging peril
lsly, was Elaine. She was clinging
lere holding a Chinaman at bay.
Suddenly we saw her draw herself
and deliberately dive into the wa
#. The Chinaman dived also. Hand
yer hand he went after her. We
atched, speechless.
Kennedy turned and seized the rapid
re gun, whirling it around and aim
g carefully.
The Chinaman was a powerful SWIM
er and was rapidly gaining on
laine. We could even see the CLEAN
the knife in the searchlight. Care
lily Craig sighted the gun. The mis-.
Ike of a hairs breadth meant life or
'ath.
He fired
Not a minute too soon the shot
over the waves. The
linaman's arms went up in mute sur.
nder. His head sank below the sur
ce of the water.