The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1915-09-02
She seized a chafr and

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 1t 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 yolley of vile oaths and quick
footsteps, as Gregor gave hasty orders
to his crew.
The Chinaman at the door redoubled
his efforts He seized fire ak hang
ing near by and attacked the door
with that, hacking furiously.
One after another, the table. chest.
everything movable, Elaine piled up
against the door as it 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 few
feet above her.
With frantic strength born of fear
the heroic girl wrggled 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 ran EAa then over on the deck
Just as the piled-up furniture tumbled
| over after The door gave way.
The Chinaman, Infatuated. 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 lUg There was Just chance
| that a 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 OK the
/ Chinaman appeared at the hatch. A
moment later his 1.-THE body xorE1ed
/ itself out on deck. AS he came near
er. Elaine retreated further toward
Gregor.
Oh, sir, she pleaded, save me! l
! 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
roughly. pushing her aside. Save
yourself"
The Ghinamap came a step nearer.
knife appraised. She fed along the
deck There in the shrouds was lad
der. In desperation she seized a rung.
swung herself around, and started up.
Her relentless pursuer followed.
hand over hand. clenchiDg the knife
in his teeth. In her terror she tore
of a piece of spar that had beon loos-
ened by a shot from the cutter and
threw it full IL his face.
Still, on he came. She drew herself
up. There was no escape. A moment
she trembled aloit.
Then. from a crosStree, she jumped,
diving far out into the water. The
Chiuaman followed
Hand over hand he churned the
waves after her
We were now nearing a low. rakish
craft Though we signaled it, they
paid no attention. Instead, We could
hear the chug-ehug of an auxiliary gas
engine
BIaiuard sent IA shot across the
schooners bow Stii she did not stop
Instead, the topsails broke out in
spite Of the gale sud she headed away
faster.
Another shot flashed out from our
gun. This time a spar was carried
away, as the searchlight playing on
the schooner clearly showed.
We were rapidly gaining now.
"Brainart-stop arlington heavens
sake shouted Craig from the bow
Look"
We followed his finger as he peered
forward tensely.
There in the rigging. hanging peril
ously. was Elaine She was clinging
| there holding a Chinaman at bay.
Suddenly We saw her draw herself
up and deliberately dive into the wa
ter. The Chinaman dived also. Hand
over hand he went after her. We
watched. speeehless.
Kennedy turned and seized the rapid
fire gun whirling it around and aim
ing carefully.
The Chinaman was a powerful SWIM
ner and was rapidly gaining on
Elaine. We could even see the gleam
OF the knife in the searchlight. Care
fully Craig sighted the gun. The mis-
take Of hairs breadth meant life or
death
He fired
Not a minute too soon the shot
| ricochetted over the waves. The
| Chinaman 5 arms went up In mute sur
render His head sank below the SUR
face of the water.
Instantly, Craig and ! were leaning
far over the side OF the cutter as. with
| power Off she slipped along. close to