Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-12-22
CHAPTER xII-contInued.


he cried, elated. "Greetlngs"
She paused by the steps, looking up
n fascinating vision.
you're able to stand without assist
nnceT"
"As a matter Of fact, can move |
only ut the cost of excruciating agony"
She considered him with sober face
and smiling eyes. II don't believe you.
You're a fraud. Besides, l didn't
come to see you at all; l came to find
out why Mr.. Ember dares so to neg
lect me. Did you deliver my Invita-
tionT"
II did, unwirlingly. He was desc
lated, but he couldn't accept-had to
run back to town Immediately after
dinner"
Hes rs great fraud as you are.
But since he isn't here, shall 60"
'Please-rm famished for human So
clety. Have pity. SIT down. Tell me
where you've been with the boat"
Merely to the head Of the bay to
have the gasoline tanks filled. A most
boresome errand. If promise to come
over this evening and play you a rub
ber or two-will you permit me to so
home nowT
"On such terms I'll do anything you
can possibly suggest" he declared, en-
chanted. "But how will you
get here7 Not alone, through the
woods l can't permit that"
"Elsie shall row me down the shore
and then go back to keep cook COM
pany. Sum Fat can see me home-h
you find it still necessary to keep up
the invalid pose"
'Tm afraid" he laughed, 81 shall call
my own bluff. =. Must you really
60 so soonY'
"Good afternoon" she returned de-
murely; and ran down the steps and
of to her boat.
Smiling quietly to himself, Whitaker
watched her cast the boat of, get un-
der way, and swing it out Of sight be-
hind the trees. Then his smile wavered
and faded and gave place to a look Of
acute discomfort. Three mortal hours
to fritter away In proftless anticipa-
ton
At seven Whitaker was merely nerv-
GUS.
By eight he was unable to sit still.
Half an hour later the house was too
small to contain him. He found him
self at the end Of the dock, tingling
with impatience, but finding some little
consolation in the restless sweep Of
the wind against his face and body. He
could see little-a mere suggestion OF
the shore line picked out with the dim,
semiphosphorescen glow Of breaking
wnvelets. Some minutes elapsed. The
pallor Of the east grew more marked.
Whitaker fancied he could detect a
figure moving on the Fiske dock.
Then, startled, he grew conscious Of
the thick drOne Of a heavily-powered
motor boat near Inshore. Turning
quickly, he discovered a black, vague
shape not twenty yards from where he
stood. showing neither bow nor side
lights: a stealthy and mysterious ap-
partition creeping toward the dock with
something of the effect Of an animal
about to spring.
And Immediately he heard mans
voice from the boat, abrupt with anger
.'Not this place, you ass-the next"
"Shut up" another voice replied,
There's somebody on that dock"
At the same time the bows Of the
boat swung of and the shadow slipped
AWAY to westward--toward the Fiske
place.
A wondering apprehension Of some
90 nwfn .fcn
somehow involving the woman who
Obsessed his thoughts, crawled in Whit
aker's mind. Automatically he turned
back, lot himself down to the beach
and began to pick his way toward th'
Fiske dock, half running despite hll
stiff ankle. But he had not gone hal.
the way before he pulled up with {
humping heart, startled beyond ex
preston by a cry in the night-a CT!
Of wild appeal and protest ringing
clear down the wind, a voice who's
timbre was Enthusiastically that Of |
woman: "Aux secours AUX secours I
Twice 1t cried out, and then wa
hushed as grimly as the first inco
herent screams. No need now to CUES
az what was towards: Whitaker wa
running, needless Of his injured foot
pitching, slipping, stumbling, leaping-
somehow making progress.
BY now the moon had lifted abov
the beach high enough to aid him some
what with it's waxing light; and, looi
ing ahead. he could distinguish diml
shapes about the dock and upon 1t tina
seemed to bear out his most cruC
fears. The power boat was passabl
distinct, her white side showing plainl
through the tempered darkness. MID
way down the dock he made out stru,
Cling figures-two of them, he judged
man at close grips with a franti
woman. And where the structur
Joined the land, second pair. again
man and woman, strove and swaye
For oil his haste, he was too slow
he was still fair thirty yards awa
when the struggle on the dock ende
abruptly with the collapse Of the wor
an; II was as II, he thought, b,
strength had fidled all in an Instant
ms IL she had tainted. He saw the ma
catch her up in his arms, where she ID
limp and unresisting, and with tn
burden step from the stage to the bO
and disappear from sight beneath Il
coamlng. An instant later he rea
peared, standing at full height in Il
cockpit. Without warning his ar
Strengthened out aud a tongue of fan
jetted from his hand; there was a I
port In the same breath bullet buri
itself In the low earth bank on VIII
nker's right. Needless he pelted on.
The shot seemed to signal the end
the other struggle Mt the landing stal
Scarcely had It rung out ere Whltak
saw the man lift a fist and dash
brutally into the woman's face. wit
out a sound audible at that distan
she recled and fell away; while {
man turned. ran swiftly out to the e
OF the dock, cast Off the headwarp a
jumped aboard the boat.
she began to sheer Off as Whltnk
% set foot upon the stage. She was tive
~ fraf distant ,Vhpu hp fOund hfrns,