The Tupelo journal., 1916-11-24

Burton Finds a Discrepancy in the Ac-
cunts.
knew Jim Wade did not hesitate to
believe that the presence of Marjorie
would hardly deter him from accom-
plishing a grim and tragic mission.
Therefore, hastily securing a rifle or
two, they manned a couple of the fast
est boats in the fishing fleet and set
out after the Mary r.
That tiny craft was now only a dim
speck on the horizon, and could not
be discerned at all from sea Level.
Il fishermen knew that Rogers
would head straight for a bank which
at that period Of the year was alive
with fish, so wasted no time in
fruitless search, but took a precise
line. They were rewarded within half
an hour by seeing the Mary Il. at u
distance Of about two miles.
The little vessel was laid to and
looked placid enough, but The trained
eyes IF experts noted that her gear
Pwas not cut ana deducted some uu-
usual event from that Simple fact. So
they strained every nerve to get the
last ounce Of power from the engines,
and raced along at a rare speed.
It was well, indeed, that they did so.
jim Wade, whom Marjorie had sea
taking furtiye drinks from a bottle
when the skipper was rot looking. had
evidently screwed Up his courage To
act as @ as Rogers decided to au-
Choir. The unfortunate skipper WAS
busyiug himself with some hooks and
lines when the wretched murderer
sprang at him and buried a knife be-
tween his shoulder blades.
For some reason known only to HIM
self, Wade wasted a precious couple
of seconds in turabling the body into
the sea-rossibly he wished to avoid
hlo0dstains 81 the deck. At any rate,
Marjorie's piercing scream gave John
just sufficient time tC turn and meet.
lis wculd-5e slayer's attack. The two
grappled ana John contrived to seize
Waide's right wrist and thus stay the
hand which held that dripping knife.
To and fro they swayed in mortal
struggle. Marjorie cid not interfere.
but had the presence of mind to stop
the engine. At last, making a supreme
effort, Burton bent Waide's arm back
and forced him to let go the weapon,
which fell into the sea.
Thinking he had mastered his adj
( x-N,.gaf .~ Ttvzr.4D,- ,,T,-..IF IL CT.
for a moment, and the outcome was
nearly disastrous, since Wade, agile
as Il cat, sprang away from him.
seized a boathook and dealt him n ter
rible blow on the head, which m0men-
tarily deprived him of his senses. The
great brute laughed at the success OF
what he regarded a. clever stratagem
and was about to pick up Burton'S
body ana heave it into the sea after
that of the hapless skipper when Mar
iorie closed with hi1a. Despite her
puoy strength, the plucky girl man
aged to defeat his purpose and COM
PEELED him to defend himself against
her really courageous attack.
The fight between the two had lasted
for five long minutes, and it was a
sheer impossibility that either they or
Marjorie should notice the rescue
boats drawing near. When Wade had
beaten down the girls hands, however,
and was actually taunting her with
the fate he meant inflicting after he
had dealt with Burton, his staring eyes
fell on flo r11rSuarc
Thea he knew what was coming to
hiIa. Inspired by the final madness
of a cornered tiger, he seized Mar
jorie, meaning to leap overheard hold
ing her in his arms so that they
might drown together. But she, too,
has seen the boats, and she fought
row for dear life. The odds were
hopelessly against her, of course. end
she WAS on the Very lip of death when
one Of the men in the leading boat
took a caaace and fred. The bullet
struck Waiae's spine. He lurched hack
ward, stumbled and dropped into the
sea.
So John Burton, on recovering his
senses, came back intc a world which
still ~shuddered il the Grip of Evil.
tEND OF TENTH EPISODE.l