Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-05-10

ed. You're wretch. I'll never give
it to you. I'll die first. Don't you
dare come down here. III drag you
over the cliff if have to go over my
self"
Nothing daunted, he came on.
There was but one chance left to get
away and, unhesitating, she took it.
Turning, just as he thought ne had
her in his power. she sprang from
where she stood on the edge of the
precipice far out ever the ocean be-
low He stood spellbourd. She struck
with a great splash. He saw her come
up, strike out and sink again, as il
helpless. But he knew her unquench-
'able determination, her resource and
her daring. and was shrewd enough
to watch the surface of the bay close
ly. Sure enough, in a little while he
could see her. after swimming a dis
lance under water regain the surface
and with long, powerful strokes swim
away.
At no great distance from where
she had plunged into the bay a speed
launch lay at anchor. Helen recog-
nized the boat; ii had. in truth, Cnce
been her own, and she had named it
The Spiderwater. 1t belonged now to
the owners of her fathers estate, but
she believed she might borrow it once
more. Seagrue, impotent with rage,
and following her down the shore.
saw her reach the launch and climb
resolutely up over the gunwale into
the cockpit.
Shaking herself like a duck, and
without losing a minute. Helen spread
the wet blue print out on the deck,
broke the motor lock on the ignition
switch. and turned the engine over.
She knew the riotor well: it was a
powerful Loew Victor, and after her
second effort it hummed like a dyna.
mo. While ii was warming up she
cut the mooring line Seagrue easily
suspected she meant TO get to Rhine
lander at oceanside. He looked at
his watch. II he could catch the Lin
tied he could still reach the city ahead
of her Exasperated, and out of
breath, he FASTENED back to camp.
routed out his chauffeur and took his
racing car for the station. Hardly a
minute was left to him. and his hope
of reaching a point where he could
flag the through train vanished when
he heard its whistle and saw the
CLEAN Of itse headlight 1zhag down
the Signal grade.
But he would not give up. Urging
his man to speed. he gained the high
way paralleling the railroad track.
and as the Limited shot by, Seagrue.
with all the power that could be got
out of his motor, actually held for q
time abreast of it. He yelled and
shouted as one sleeper after another
drew slowly past-both the train and
the motor ear were running very fast
but he could attract no attention.
Helpless with rage. he saw the last
car pulling gradually past, and furi-
Gus at being baked. he stood up on
the seat and as the car drew past him,
he jumped over the rail and landed on
the observation platform
Helen was pushing the launch to
ward Oceanside. The ocean below the
bay laps almost the edge Of the rail.
road track, but her heart sank as she
| looked back and saw the night train
tearing up the track and rapidly over
| hauling her. Instinct told her that
Seagrue would somehow board that
train in an effort to get to the city
first. AS the engine drew nearer, she
/ picked up a pair of glasses and level
ing them on the cab. discovered
| George Storm on the right Size. She
waved a s ynal flag at him, but his
eyes were glued on the track ahead
/ Then, as If by an inspiration, she
seized the cord Of the air whistle 3;
her hand and in the Morse coce sig
nailed for help. Storm turned his
head and looked back questioningly
along his train: then up at his OWL
whistle The whistling continued, and
his attention was finally drawn to the
launch, now dropping behind the train
Helen caugi up her signal flag again
| In flash he recognized her, and call
ing his fireman over they listened tC
her appeal.
Give me paper, pencil" shouted
Storm, as he shut of the throttle anC
listened to the long and short loot:
that re-echoed in jerky succession
from the surface of the sea against th,
towering cliffs and through the fyins
cab. On leaf. torn from pad, Storm
scratched out the signals:
Have survey. Seagrue on you
train. Delay 50 l can reach Oceansid'
first. HELEN"
The engine whistle shrieked his an
swer to her eager ears.
Something wrong with engine al
ready"
The fireman. learning the truth from
Storm, tried to persuade him. what
ever happened. not to delay the train
1t would cost Storm, he urged, his job
What's the job to me?" demanded
Storm, applying the air and bringing
up the train with a jolt. So saying, hC
snatched small handful Of tools from
the box and prepared to get down.
Seagrue had made his way into the
coach. He summoned the conductor
and being known was accorded every
courtesy. But the race was now frs
on his mind. and when he heard the
brakes grinding, and running back or
the platform saw fire screaming from
the wheels. he called the conductor
demanding TO know the cause Of the
stop. Going forward together for an
explanation, the two men found Storm