The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-12-18
CHAPTER TX.
A Stern Chase.

A stern ,ChaSe.
Miss Irene Courtier, if such were
her name, rose from her couch In an
upper room in the Hardin cottage
with an agility that gave no hint of a
disabled ankle.
At last she spied a knot in one of
the floor boards. She procured nail
file from her handbag and within a
few moments had removed the knot
from its containing hole. Then she
treated herself to view of the room
below.
She perceived that a celebration
was in progress. Upon the table was
a birthday cake8with eighteen candles
in it, and about. the table were four
people. Annette, the center Of attrac-
ton; Neal and his mother and his
foster brother, Joe Welcher. -,
Mrs. Hardin stepped to a cupboard
and drew forth paper bundle. She
placed it on the table and by the light
of the eighteen candles she unwrapped
it, exhibiting to Annette 1lington and
to the boys a set of childish garments,
heavy leather bag, that clinked as
she laid it down, and mysterious
looking yellow packet, sealed with red
sealing wax. She .unpinned from a
d1mlnut1ve dress piece of paper
which she read aloud.
The listener above started as the
note was read. It was a strange note
it contained both a promise and a
warning.
Look said Annette suddenly, as
she examined her possessions, here
is locket." g.. srs-..s i =, r..
In it there was picture of a man.
my father" said Annette, II am
sure it is my father. Where is he
when will he come for me?"
Suddenly Welcher started forward.
Godfrey" he cried, did you hear
that"
''1t's shot from, small-bore gum y
said Neal. "Come on, Joe Welcher,
'let's 60 out and see."
The shot was the indirect result OF
the raid upon the gangsters. Of the
"Side Pocket" ...
For an hour at least a government
destroyer with United States revenue
officers aboard had patrolled the coast
waiting for the signal arranged as
per the unsigned bit of paper taken
from the coat, pocket of Shorty.
The signal was a, flash flare The
destroyer waited for it. Suddenly an
officer held up his hand. 49,.
There, close in shore" ~. 49,
A light flashed forth into the night.
"Now, we've got them where we
want them," said the officer "Man
the launch and get away as quietly as
possible" ..% .-.l
Meantime Hernandez and his two
companions, Ponto and the brute,
waited with the patience Of adventur.
ers for the replying signal. They
were anchored in speedy motor boat
in a small cove to the south Of Sea-
port. Receiving no answer to- their
signal, they flashed another flare into
the darkness. Once more they were
disappointed. Suddenly Hernandez
sprang to the engine and turned it
over. ~.
"Steer an even course down Shore"
Hernandez cried to-Ponto. "Keep out
of the open. If they press us we can
land and make a getaway"
Z The commander of the destroyer
glanced through his glasses.
2 a1That's bad crowd" he said, "a
desperate bunch. Send up gunner.
I think I'll take chance
Z They sent up a gunner and he took
a chance. The, bow of the motor boat
few into space Hernandez and his
gang were plunged into sea.
With one accord Hernandez and his
two companions struck out for the
shore.
At the Hardin cottage, at the SQUAD
of the shot, Neal and Annette had.
rushed forth with Joe Welcher a close
third.
"Come on, Joe," said Neal. 'stay:
where you are, Annette"
But Annette, always venturesome,
insisted upon keeping them company
They had not gone twenty PAGES when
something happened There was
sudden rush from down the road and
man, his breath coming quick and
fast, darted upon them, passed them,
and was away in an instant. But in
that instant he had accidentally or by