The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-01-27

ahoffen Retreating.
heard above the loud drone of the en-
gines. What have we gained? What
do we know"
Look said she. Look at them
below us yonder They want what
we want. They pursue what we pur-
sue? Why? Believe me, they know
that the coin is on ahead. If they
know it, why shouldn't we? Monsieur
lie comte, your ride this morning was
an inspiration. The accident of fol-
lowing what might have been the
wake of fish, but was the flash of
submarine-the accident of seeing
yonder cloud of smoke ahead-that
was fate fighting with u.s.. Believe
me, Roleau is yonder on that boat!
Believe me, he has the coin. Fate is
! fighting with us at last say The
end Of all our troubles is at hand"
AS they swept forward, now near,
now dropping off from the course OF
the speeding yacht. always Kitty
turned her glass upon the decks of
the water craft. At length she ex-
claimed
1T is he! l see him. He is there.
standing looking back He has no
glass. He cannot recognize us now.
But it is he. All! trust yonder faith
full soul not to be travelling in vain. I
am sure, as though / saw it, that he
has the coin with him there. ! am
sure as though l saw him, that It is
Count Sachio himself in yonder SUBJ
marine pursuing him. Come! Lit
orally, we must fly
And fly they did. Moment after mo.
ment, hour after hour, until at length
the smoke above Gretzhoffen harbor
| thickened, until the towers of the
! cathedrals and the palace appeared,
until the shipping grew more distinct,
until the long green slope of the coast
Notifications showed to the eyes of
Count Frederick, high above the level
OF the sea-
eve will make 1t safely, made
moiselle,' said Count Frederick, at
last. For some reason the subma-
rine does not attack, do not know
why. The three of us soon will be
within reach of our own guns I won
der"
The wonder of Count Frederick was
not Ill placed. In few moments they
heard the dull report of a 3d-centi-
meter piece of one of the coast bat
teries-saw the white cloud of smoke
burst from the emplacement in front
of the disappearing gun. On ahead
they saw the white splash of the she'll
across the bows of the advancing
yacht.
What do they mean?' exclaimed
Count Frederick. "Ah, l see. The:
yatch carries the ensign of the royal;
navy of Grahoffen! IT is armed Our:
gunners take it for an enemy Now:
heaven send them bad aim for once!"
A shot, and yet another followed,
bracketing the yacht between the:
ranges. Count Frederick held his:
breath for what he knew would come:
Come it did. The yacht, struck full
by the impact of a heavy shell. reeled.:
eareened, half broke apart and began:
to settle by the head.
1T is too bad!" exclaimed Count:
Frederick; sunk by our own menu!
Yonder yacht was coming to our har-
Dor for protection, carrying our own
man-carrying our own fortune-the
Gretzhoffen coin! And now all is:
LOST"
He turned the prov of the air craft:
full toward the settling yacht. The:
wake of the submarine was no longer;
visible.
Then, what the men of the Gretz-s
honen batteries saw-what the men:
OF the submarine might have seen had;
their periscope then been above the:
surface-was the swift volplane of
the air craft which they SO long had
followed. It swept down now like q;
giant bird, at a keen angle, as though:
itself would dip into the sea. Below;
1t there swept the great anchor rope!
its end whipping white here and there!
on the tops Of the waves.
Alloy, Roleau!" cried the voice OF:
Count Frederick.
Roieau looked up at this summons:
from the clouds. and saw above the;
raii or the air craft he 80 long had:
noted in wonder two faces that hei
Knew and loved! A great sob shook
his giant chest. Even his callous soul;
was affected. Out Of the very deem;
they had come-his master and his;
mistress-to save him, when Ia:
thought all was lost! He lifted up his
hands.
The whipping rope coiled and
turned, twisted this way and that But
the steady hand at the rudder Of the
air craft guided it straight onward.
downward.
Holeau reached out, made a swift
grasp, felt himself swept free, Oh his
rect. An instant later, hand over
nand. he began his ascent from What
nad been the EXTREMIST peril OF hie
life.