Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-17
By LOUIS TRACY

older man was not only determined
that no alarm should be given, but
that this fool boy should be prevented
from running his own future.
Before the japanese could deter
mine how TO act for the best he heard
door being unlocked, and the
younger West rushed out into the
sunshine, But shot crashed from
the interior of the building, and Mar
jorie's lover staggered and crumpled
up on the ground.
By this time some people in the
village had become aware of unusual
happenings in the office of the fish
ing company, so score or more
1 heard the report and saw Thomas
West fall. They knew, too-a vital
ly important thing--that Osuka was
not the assailant, and were ready in
consequence to believe the dramatic
story he poured out when a number
OF men hurried forward in response
to his excited gesticulations.
The terrible truth soon became
manifest Richard West, maddenc
by fear and rage, had actually fired
at his own son. Perhaps he did not
mean to kill the unhappy youth, and
only had it in his frenzied mind to
brighten him into submission. Be
that as it may, the bullet had entere 1
the young mans heart, and the faith
cr was with difficulty prevented from
adding another crime to the terrible
| one already laid to his account. He
fired more than once at the men who
sought to arrest him, but Osuka con-
trived to trip him up and he was
handcuffed promptly and led away.
But an almost more tragic posi-
bility yet faced the Mortified people.
Osuka managed to convince them
that West had really planned the
murder OF Burton and Rogers, and
those who knew Jim Wade did not
hesitate to believe that the presence
of Marjorie would hardly deter him
from accomplishing a grim and tragic
mission, Therefore, hastily securing
rifle or two, they manned a couple
of the fastest boats in the fishing
fleet and set out after the Mary R.
The tiny craft was now only a dim
speck on the horizon, and could not
be discerned at all from sea level
The fishermen knew that Rogers
would head straight for bank which
at that period OF the year was alive
with fish, so wasted no time in fruit
less search, but took a precise line.
They were rewarded within half an
hour by seeing the Mary r. at a dis
lance Of about two miles.
The little vessel was laid to and
looked placid enough, but the trained
eyes OF experts noted that its gear
was not out and deducted some I'M
usual event from that simple fact. 50
they strained every nerve to get the
last ounce OF power from the engines,
and raced along at a rare speed.
1t was well, indeed. that they did so.
Jim Wade, whom Marjorie had seen
taking furtive drinks from bottle
when the skipper was not looking, had
evidently screwed up his courage to
act as soon as Rogers decided to an
Choir. The unfortunate skipper was
busying himself with some hooks and
lines when the wretched murderer
sprang at him and buried knife be-
tween his shoulder blades.
For some reason known only to
himself, Wade wasted a precious
couple Of seconds In tumbiing the
body into the sca--possibly he wished
to avoid blood stains on the deck. At
any rate, Marjorie's piercing, scream
at seeing her father thus ruthlessly
done to death gave John just suffi-
cient time to turn and meet his would
be slayer's attack. The two grappled
and 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