East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-05-12
CHAPTER Il.


tive part to discover hiding places; the lean
lakes TO discriminate IN Values Big Ben's, with
MINERS and hammer and screwdriver, TO rip of
brasswork to open drawers. to rend and tear ana
splinter II need be- Within incredibly short space
OF time they had the skiff piled high with the rich
est and the best which the houseboat had contained;
then they spread the tarpauln over their punder
and disposed their punches Of celery so that the
green leaves protruded in a fringe from under the
edge of the tarpaulin: then the heavily laden skln'
with its four passengers and its loot, wormed lts
way clumsily from amid the barges looking like an
innocent farmer boat
The sun now q golden ball in the eastern mist
looked down upon harborage busy with the pur-
suers OF the little runaway bride Henri and Marie
were swshing swiftly; Ned ana Bobbie and Iris
were leaving the dock in Bobbies speedy little cruis'
or Honoria Blye and the well known and justly "a
nous private detective BIZ Wolf we're putting OUT
into the river in the Eagle Eye Detective agencys
steam yawl It's stOvepipe stack rolling black smoke
and cinders and hot sparks back over the already
blackening passengers; Gilbert Blye and the heaVy
lidded Edwards were just leaving the Hllarity IN
the keen little racer; Cunningham had been SLOW
and below decks when they put Of but be followed
now in the cutter The racer and the cutter speed
cd straight for the point around which June had ds
appeared Tommy Thomas waved scarf after
them and shouted absurd instructions to them, but
Mrs Willard stood quietly by the rail, her eyes fixed
somberly on that distant point
Slowly June raised from her crouching position
The cling OF the small boat which she had sghteo
seemed to be fainter rather than more distinct IL
was fading into the distance when she looked, ana
from It's red stern she knew that 1t was not one OF
the Hiaritys boats. Once more she breathed sign
of relief but even as she did so she heard familiar
sound-the siren whistle Of the Hilaritys eutterI
And II was near!
Franticauy now she scanned the shore. There
was another inlet Just ahead OF her and in despera'
tion she steered into It 1t was a narrow but dis
tinct channel winding about amid tangle OF shrub
hery and marsh grass and stunted trees with here
and there q larger tree rising from mound or
solid earth There were high banks presently ana
then tiny island. In the center OF which was de-
crepit hut June was about to step ashore when
she heard the low purring OF a motor. The cutterl
From the sudden shut-inne Of the sound 1t had
entered the inlet In terror June jumped BACK into
the boat The hut seemed deserted There was no
smoke rising from the chimney and no to protect
her II she were found there alone. She was away
IN a fash circing the island From the other side
she saw that the channel led away into the marshes
probably to another inlet and she had started to
dart down this lonely waterway when suddenly she
snied rope trailing out into the water from under
some bushes matted With marsh weeds. The whir
Of the motor was rapidly advancing. She could
scarcely hope to escape unseen. Her wits sharp
ened by her peril she steered with swift decision
toward the overhanging bushes. They parted as her
prow ran into them. and bending low, she found
herself shot into entire concealment The whir or
the approaching motor grew loud. Quick as dash
June reached for the telltae rope which had be-
trayed this hiding place and drew 1t under cover OF
the matted bushes.
Louder and lauder grew the whir II was Just
upon her with her heart beating so that her ears
we're full Of the sound Of It June peered out through
her eafy screen. 0rin Cunningham He circled the
island in his swift little cutter, his keen eyes search
ing everywhere He passed within ten feet Of herl
She held her breath lest he might hear It, and once
as his eyes turned full In her direction and she
thought he had certainly detected her hiding place
she almost screamed
He passed on however and, running his light 1t
tie boat ashore stepped ont and went up to the hut
the only possible place of concealment on the island
lime held a swift debate with herself Should she
leave her concealment and running her motor at lis
ouIetest speed slip away down that other channe
while Cunningham was In the hut2 That debate
was settled in an instant, for up the other channe
slipped the swift little speed boat carrying Edwards
and Gilbert Blyel Blyes dark, handsome face was
without It's usual suave smile, and Il wore look o
concern as. making quick nndng. he hurried NJ
to the hut. followed by the poddng Edwards
1t seemed ages before they came away and thel
had apparently made thorough search, for thel
even stopped down as they came outside to pee
under the stnted foundation amid the rubbish whicl
had accumulated there when they had gone ava!
lime remained for a long time In her hiding place
hut finally she stepped from her boat and crept from
her conceament Thirst. inspired by the fever o
her excitement had driven her forth In search o
drinkabe water.