The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-11
ELEVENTH EPISODE.
In the Clutch Of the River Thieves.
CHAPTER |.

CHAP En- u
%mRD w.s a Wild changing OF bells on the
yacht Hlartty the pushed its scar
lot rim up Into the edge of dawn. AT the
foot Of the landing stairs beautiful June
warner. her big. lustrous eyes wtdened in terror,
had cast OF the swift little motor tender, and the
dark, handsome face Of the black Vandyked man.
peertnS over the deck rail. WAS distorted with rage
He shouted again his impatient commands to the
ofncer the quarterback.
Sleepy sailors deck now, fumbling with
the davits each side From one swung little
covered cutter and from the other a long, narrow
Blye sprang TO assist the sailors lowering the
acsr
On the dock as the sun pushed its scarlet rim up
into the edge of the dawn stood the well known and
Justly famous private detective Bill Wolf, his short
hick body stf with the chill of the long night and
oy him stood overcoat and cap. Bill Volts round
face and the visor of the cap were turned toward
he river. where in midstream streaked the speedy
little motorboat Flash, which had been stolen from
hat dock while the overcoat and cap peacefully
slumbered. In the boat at the wheel sat a natty
little figure with chaufeur's cap and a tiny mus
ache. Upon his face beatihc smile, and his
yves sparkled and snapped with the exhiaration Of
his divine moment. Behind him sat, stir az a ram
-od, a woman with high cheek bones and an express
sion OF grmly patient determination on her lips
"voa Mile, Marie, cried the little chauffeur as
se cut a long graceful curve between two slow
moving barges. did not say we would swish
Maries stiff lips worked for a moment, so that she
sould enunciate.
.yoa.' she hoarsely uttered ''voila, Henri"
For only a moment the well known and justly IA
NOUS private detective Bill Wolf looked after the
swiftly swishng Henri; then he turned and pound
ed up the dock, racing for the nearest telephone.
First OF all he called the Eagle Eye Detective
~ and secured a report from its wireless depart
ment; then he reused out OF slumber sharp faced.
long nosed woman with high arched brows, who
caught up her bedside telephone with instant alert,
ness In her beady eyes.
well, got him. came the hoarse voice of Bill
Wolf Hes board the yacht Hilarity, and. say,
with the GIRL"
Immediately Honoria moved very swiftly.
The sleepy eyed steward stepped out upon the
deck OF the Harity with his uniform jacket hut
toned askew.
Beg your pardon. sir, he said. Don't lower the
boats for moment"
'whatT shouted Gilbert Blye.
The gasoline. sir. 1t did not arrive until an hour
ago"
And there's no gasoline In these tanksw roared
Big T. F. Edwards. pushing forward
mo- sir"
you internal IDIOT" yelled Grin Cunningham.
Lower those boatst' shouted Gilbert Bye Will
kins get downstairs. You I'LL those boats In
he water" And he looked out across the waves.
The escaping beauty rounding the point
In the pretty apartments which Ned and June
Warner had fitted up to be their nest Ned rose from
The couch where he had fallen asleep with the min
ature of June in his hand and recognized the rasp
ng voice Of Honoria.
well we've located your darling" And there
was a shrin cackle. "She's board the Hilarity
with my husband And the yacht is anchored out
side the bay Good morning"
Ned wasted no time. Bobbe Blethering had
stancA little boat and Robbie routed out OF bed
Immediately. yawning and wondering why the world
could never b. ut peace. But he was ready. though
it took his agitated wife Iris, minutes to make
him comprehend that the Hilarity boat She
had to suppress all her ebulient emotions to do it.
but she relieved herself somewhat by telephoning
Junes mother and father their beautiful home In
Brynport
As the sun pushed its scarlet rim up into the edge
Of the dawn and stared in pleased surprise at the
beautiful girl who was speeding toward the marshy
shore a low, gray skin with a portable motor at
tAched its stern skipped in and out Of the dmness
among the black hulls at the rivers edge. In the
skin were three rough looking men and a roughly
dressed woman who sat huddled In the bow. All
four were silent. but their furtive eyes roved con-
stantly over every vessel around which they crept.
In the bottom OF the boat were a huge bundle Of
celery and a loosely piled tnrpaun.
Suddenly the woman leaned forward and touched
the nearest man on the knee. He was big, raw
boned man with bronzed face and deep scar
his chin. The woman pointed, and the turned
his evil eyes in that direction Surrounded by black
coal barges a shining houseboat with brass
rails mahogany cabin and all the fittings and ap-
pointments which extravaganza could devise.
The man at the STERN lean, wiry fellow with
hooked nose and lean Jaw which ended in a big
knob on each cheek. slowed down the engine until
It was noiseless They completely circled the two
adjoining docks before they came back to the slip
where coal barges lay; then the skin glided in be-
meath the overhang Of the barges, and the big man
with the scar his chin knocked on the hull No
noise from within. The man picked up a club and
pounded. No stirring.
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