The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-03

sight of a rocket spearing into the
night-draped sky from a point invis-
ible beyond the headland of the light
house.
The two consulted one another with
startled and fearful eyes.
AS with one voice they murmured
one word: Judith" To this Alan
added gravely: "Or some spy of
hers!'
Then rousing, Alan released his
friend, with a smart shove urging him
across the threshold of the hotel.
go on" he insisted, "join Rose and
get your supper. I'll be with you as
soon as can arrange for a boat. Tel
her nothing more than that-that l
thought it unwise to wait until every
body was abed before looking round"
He turned to find his landlord ap-
preaching from the direction Of the
hotel barroom. And for the time it
seemed that the wind of their luck
must have veered to favoring quar-
ter; for the question was barely ut
tered before the landlord lifted will
ing voice and hailed fellow towns
man idling nearby.
Hey, Jake-come here!"
Introduced as Mr.. Breed, Jake
pleaded guilty to ownership of the
fastest and stanchest power-cruiser
in the adjacent waters, which he was
avariciously keen to charter.
They observed haste relgiously;
within ten minutes they stood upon a
float at the foot of flight of wooden
steps down the side of the town wharf,
while the promised rowboat of Mr.
Breed drew in. at most leisurely pace,
to meet them.
Aboard and away from the wharf,
| the burden of Alan's solicitude seemed
to grow lighter with every squeal
of the greaseless oarlccks, with ev-
cry dip and splash OF the blades
which, welded by crew of villainous
countenance, brought them nearer the
handsome motorboat which Mr.. Breed
designated as his own 1t was not
until Alan looked up suddenly to find
! Mr.. Breed covering him with re-
! volver of most vicious character that
| he had the least apprehension of any
danger nearer than the offing, where
+, Judith's schooner might be lurking,
waiting for its prey to come out and
be devoured.
I'll take that money-belt of yours,
young feller," Mr.. Breed announced,
and be quick about it-not forgetting
what's in your trousers pocket"
In the passion of his indignation
Alan neglected entirely to play the
same by the rules. The Indifference
lie displayed toward the weapon was
positively unprofessional - for he
Knocked 1t aside as IL it had been
nothing more dangerous than a straw.
And in the same flutter of an eyelash
re launched himself like wildcat at
the throat of Mr.. Breed.
Before that one knew what was her
pening he had gone over the stern
and had involuntarily disarmed him
self as well.
The other two men made a sad bust
ness of attempting to overpower Mr..
Barcus. In less than a minute they
were both overheard
And just for this Alan said before
getting out of earshot-"I'm going to
treat my party to joy-ride in your
pretty powerboat"
He concluded this speech abruptly
as Barcus brought them up under the
quarter of the power cruiser.
Within two minutes the motor was
spinning contentedly, the mooring had
been slipped, and the motorboat was
heading out of the harbor.
Within five minutes she had left It
well astern and was shooting rapidly
westward, making nothing of the buf. |
Tets of very tolerable sea kicked up
by the freshening southwesterly wind ;
My friend" observed Alan. "as
our acquaintance ripens / am more /
and more impressed that neither of us |
was born to die natural death. /