Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-04-06

well, Babe, you sliced me, all right"
harborage busy with the pursuers of
the little runaway bride. Henri and
Marie were swishing swiftly; Ned and
Bobbie and Iris were leaving the dock
In Boobies speedy little cruiser; Homo
ria Blye and the well known and just
ly famous private detective, Bill Wolf,
Eagle Eye Detective agency's steam
yawl, its stovepipe stack rolling black
smoke and cinders and hot sparks
back over the already blackening pas
sengers: Gilbert Blye and the heavy
l1dded Edwards were just leaving the
Hilarity in the keen little racer; Gun
ningham had been slow and below
decks when they put off, but he fol
low now in the cutter. The racer and
the cutter speeded straight for the
point around which June had disap-
peared Tommy Thomas waved a scarf
after them and shouted absurd in
structions to them. but Mrs. Willard
stood quietly by the rail, her eyes fixed
somberly on that distant point
Slowly June raised from her crouch
ing position The cling Of the small
boat which she had sighted seemed to
be fainter rather than more distinct.
1t was fading into the distance when
she looked, and from its red stern she
knew that it was not one of the Hilar-
ity's boats. Once more she breathed
sigh of relief. but even as she did so
she heard a familiar sound-the siren
whistle of the Hilarity's cutter! And
it was near!
Frantically now she scanned the
shore There was another inlet just
ahead of her, and in desperation she
steered into it. 1t was q narrow but
distinct channel. winding about amid
a tangle of shrubbery and marsh grass
and stunted trees, with here and there
a larger tree rising from mound OF
solid earth There were high banks
presently and then a tiny island, in the
center of which was a decrepit hut.
June was about TO step ashore when
she heard the low purring of motor
The cutter! From the sudden shut-in-
ness of the sound it had entered the
inlet In terror June jumped back into
the boat. The hut seemed deserted.
There was nc smoke rising from the
chimney and no one to protect her II
she were foupd there alone. She was
away in q flash, circling 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 water
way when suddenly she spied a rope
trailing out into the water from, under
some bushes matted with marsh weeds
The whir Of the motor was rapidly adj
vancing. She could scarcely hope to
escape unseen Her wits sharpened
by her peril. she steered with swift de-
cision toward the overhanging bushes
They parted as her PROV ran into
them, and, bending low, she found her
self shot into entire concealment. The
whir of the approaching motor grew
loud. Quick as a fash June reached
for the telltale rope which had be-
trayed this hiding place and drew 1t
under cover of the matted bushes.
Louder and louder grew the whir. 1t
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 leafy screen. Grin Cunningham!
He circled the island in his swift little
cutter. his keen eyes searching every
T. within forn foot of
her. 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 little boat ashore. stepped out
and went up to the hut. the only pos
sible place Of concealment on the is
land June had a swift debate with
herself. Should she leave her conceal
ment and. running her motor at its
auietest speed. slip away down that
other channel while Cunningham was
In the hut? That debate was settled In
an instant, for up the other channel
slipped the swift little speed boat car
rying Edwards and Gilbert Blye,
Blye's dark, handsome face was with
out its usual suave smile. and it wore
a look OF concern as, making quick
landing, he hurried up to the hut fol-
lowed by the Flooding Edwards.
1t seemed ages before they came
away. and they had apparently made
thorough search, for they even stopped
down as they came outside TO peer IN
der the stilted foundation amid the
rubbish which had accumulated there
When they had gone away June re-
manned for long time In her hiding
place. bu, finally she stepped from her
boat and c2ept from her concealment.
Thirst. Inspired by the fever of her ex-
element. had driven her forth in
,search OF drinkabie water.
There was a caSk OF water in the hut
brackish and stale. but it was water.
and she drank OF il from a rusty old
tin cup which hung to it She had just
set down the cup when her quick ears
detected low. steady hum She step
ped TO the door. ready to make dash
for her boat. but as she set her foot
upon the threshold she saw the dark
gray PROV OF a skif protruding its
point around the bend OF the lower
channel. She darted back out Of sight
and. looking through a crack in the
board wall saw in the skif three