The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-10-14


been living almost from hand to
mouth. Honestly, Helena. many is the
time when I've gone out fishing trying
to catch me fish for my supper"
$50 does Il poor girl have to econo-
mice" said She
! you are most sparing Of the truth
this morning. Helena, my DEAR" l said
"How dare you!" she bazed now at
the tender phrase. Fine, isn't it.
when / can't get away? If could Id
go where Id never see or hear of you
again. l thought had"
"But you have not. You shall hear
and see me daily till know from your
own lips the truth about you and-and
every and any other man on earth who
well, who wears waistcoats with
pink stripes"
We'll have a long ride them" said
she calmly and rose.
rose also and bowed.
We ran by the river front of Baton
Rouge and lay to on the opposite side
while our dinghy ran in With mail.
sent Peterson and I4afitte ashore for
the purpose and meantime paced the
deck in several frames Of mind.
was arrested in this at length by
LOlonnois, who was standing for.
ward. glasses in hand.
Here they come" said he, land
a-humping it up too. Look. Jean La.
f1tte is standing up. waving at us.
Something's up. sure. Mayhap we are
pursued by the enemy. Methinks tits
hue and cry. good sir"
"What's wrong. Peterson:" shouted
as he came in range at last.
Hurry up" 1t was LATTE who an
swered. "Clear the decks for action.
Yon varlet has wired on ahead to have
us stopped. They're after U.S." So
came his call through cupped hands.
We hardly were under way before
small power boat, bearing blue coat.
ed man, puffed alongside.
"What boat is this?" be called. "Belle
Helene of Mackinaw?'
In answer-without order from me
my bloodthirsty mate, L'Olonnois,
brought out the black burgee of the
jolly Rover, bearing a skull and cross
bones. "Have look at that" he pip
ed. "Shall we clear the stern chaser,
Black Bart:"
Hold on there, wait! I've got pa.
pers for YOU" called the officer, still
hanging at our rail, for l had not yet
ordered full speed.
"He hollered to me he was going tc
arrest us, Mr.. Harry" explained Peter.
son, much out of breath "What's 1t
all about? What papers does he
mean?'
''rhe morning papers very likely,
Peterson" said I, with the baseball
scores'
twill you halt now?" called the Of
| ficer.
NO" answered through the mega.
phone. "You have no authority to halt
us. What's your paper, and who is it
| for?'
"Wire from Calvin Davidson, Match
ez, charging John Doe with running
off with his boat"
''This Is not his boat" l answered,
"but my own. and am not John Doe.
We are on our way to the coast and
not under any Jurisdiction Of yours
He stood up and drew paper from
his pocket and began to read. In reply
| pulled the whistle cord and drowned
his voice, while at the same time
gave the engineer orders for full speed
Shaking his fist, he fell astern.
AS l turned to pick up the course
for l had myself taken the WHEEL
saw the figure Of Aunt Lucinda on the
after deck She was on the point OF
heaving overheard a bottle. l heard it
splash, saw it bob astern. "Now the
devil will be to pay" thought l. But
on second thought slowed down, so
that distinctly saw the officer, also
slowing down, stoop over and take the
bottle aboard his launch.
"Ahoy, the launch" 1 hailed. He
put hand at his ear as megaphoned
him. '"Take this message for Mr.. Cal
vim Davidson" l hailed The nodded
| that he heard)-"that tonight John Doe
will wear his waistcoat, the one with
the pink stripes. Do you get me?'
Apparently he did not get me, for he
sat down suddenly and mopped bis
face. We left him So And for aught
could know he took back ashore ma
terial for a newspaper story, which
babe fair to be better for the newspa.
| n-n.
Helene, for, up and down the river
the wires might carry the news that
crazy man had been guilty of piracy
highway robbery, abduction, know
not how many other crimes, and to
arrest him on his mad career they
might enlist all the authorities, munici.
pal, county, state and even national.
CAAPTER X1