Gilpin observer., 1916-12-14

eral times headlong into the dust and
finally pitched into a dock. in which
he might straightway have drowned
had not couple Of mates gone to his
assistance and dragged him out.
Osuka became the hero Of the dance.
Tho news of his exploit spread
through the village. and Marjorie, who
fled at the outset OF the fight. had re-
covered her self-possesslon sufficiently
when she met Osuka as to be able to
shake hands with him and thank him
very prettily for the great service he
had rendered.
The jewellers made Osuka come In
and Join them, aird the Jap proved as
nimble on his feet as he had been
with his hands.
John heard from his lawyers on the
following morning; they arranged to
send skilled Investigators within twen-
ty-four hours. As the weather contin-
ued fine he resolved to accompany
Captain Rogers to the fishing grounds.
This was the very opportunity that
Richard West awaited and he seized
1t ruthlessly. On one pretense or an
other, he contrived to detain every
boat except the 'Mary r." Moreover,
that smart little vessel. which carried
sailing rig as well as q petrol en-
CINE, was sent to sea short-handed.
But evil is not thing that can be
doled out with such care that 1t never
passes the bounds set for 1t. Richard
West little imagined that there would
be four people instead Of three on the
'Mary r." that day!
Marjorie had elected to accompany
the fishing party.
Osuka wished to accompany his
master, but Jim Wade refused en-
phatically to allow the Jap on board.
Rogers was annoyed by his assistants
defiance, but had to yield since Wade
was needed to attend the engine.
Osuka was greatly disappointed He
lounged about the pier, watching the
MARY R." speeding out into the blue
expanse Of the waters, until at last,
being minded to enjoy cigarette, he
went behind some buildings on the
wharf and seated himself in the shade.
By idle chance he squatted beneath
the open window of an office, but had
not the least notion that he was on
the premises of the company in which
his master was interested until he
heard deep voice cursing Burton by
name.
OF course, the Japanese did not
know who was speaking.
II have fixed him now, Tom"
doomed the voice. Hell never come
back alive from that trip he started
on half an hour ago. And I've got af-
fairs in such shape that I'll be able
to grab every bit of stock he holds in
this company"
Father" said another voice, which
Osuka thought he had heard before
(and therein he was not mistaken;
he had met young West at the dance),
"you shouldn't say such things. You
can't possibly mean them. It's just
rubbish to talk about Mr.. Burton not
coming back alive. What's to stop
him, I'd like to known"
"I'll stop him, you young fool!"
stormed the elder West. "I've stopped
him already. Jim Wade will attend
to that. The Mary r. will be lost at
sea, and with her will go down both
Burton and that rotten telltale,
Rogers"
What are you saying?" screamed
young West, startled into a frenzy by
his fathers extraordinary statements,
since he knew that Marjorie was
aboard the fishing smack.
you're mighty slow this morning."
came the jeering answer. "It's just
as I tell you; I'm payin' Jim Wade
quite a thick wad to get rid of the
pair Of them. You ought to know.
You're my son. / am dom this for
your sake, but I took the risk on my
own shoulders. For all that, am
dashed If 1 let you believe that the
thing was an accident. You've got
to be up to the neck in this as well as
met"
"You-yOu murderer" shouted the
son, his voice rising to strlll falsetto.
Marjorie is on that boat"
Don't you dare call me names. We
are one as bad as the other. And
what do I care whether Marjorie is
there are not? Here! where are you
goingf"
Let me go, tell you! Let me 60
or I'll strike you'll"
what do you mean to dot"
"Start out to save them, of course.
l pray to God I may not be too late !"
The sounds Of furious struggle
reached the astounded Osuka. Broken
curses and breathless threats told that
the son was striving to choke his IA
Their into helplessness, while the 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 determine
how to act for the best he heard
door being unlocked, and the younger
West rushed out into the sunshine.