The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-02
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
"SON OF THE WIND"
BY Lucia Chamberlain.
Continued from our last issue)

800 hiODtB oh uhtVob
Uncle Billy scratched his chin
Since he was going to Pidgin II
was useless to look north any
more. A hundred dollars.
What's on your mind, Lester?'
asked Crawford.
1 II don't like the looks OF
things, sir. We'd better get back
into the river"
i Lester" said Crawford seri.
ously. I've. simply got to go to
Pidgin If Miss Wynne does.
saw a boat land there an hour OF
SO ago. She's gone back to King
ston. Hydroplane she was"
All right. IL you say so-but
It's against my judgment"
| BY this time Uncle Billy was
crossing the steamboat channel
south of the spar buoy, Testers
boat was just nosing outside of
Long Point. Crawford, intent up
on watching Diana, missed Les
ter's frown.
His cogitations were rudy
broken. He saw Lester stand up,
lean against the tiller rope, and
the boat careened in an abrupt
half-circle.
Whats up"
Look at Reeds Bay! We've
got to get out of her, quick!"
Lester, there's woman in
Billy's boat and they are headed
for Pidgin."
'Bill's crazy!" shouted Lester.
| The squall struck-the air was
bitter cold.
Lester, when they turn back
you turn back, but not till then"
Lester took the life belt from
under his rowing seat and buckl-
ed 1t on. Crawford followed his
example.
The real danger lay not in
heading for Pidgin, but in trying
to land or leave. The tempest
Tor there was no doubt in the
mind of either man that this
squat was backed by sterner
stuff-would drive them without
particularly grave danger; but to
stop and turn was matter of
life and death.
About mile out the squat be-
came tempest in fact.
The two boats were now riding
choppy, boiling sea. The swells
l1fted them and the north waves
battered and smashed against
their quarters, growing in height
each moment.
Uncle Billy had steaded down
10 half-power, praying under his
stubby mustache that the engine
would not Ego back on him."
There was no fear on her face
-somehow it looked lean and
nonesslike. That Lester was
grimly tagging on behind was
ms only consolation. Two boats
In a gale were always safer than
one.
He turned and bawled against
the wind: Pm a thunderin' tar
nation fool, Miss Wynne. IF they's
anythin on that DANCED island
wuth stackin' our lives against,
Ia like t know whut 1t is"
"A rajah's ransom, Uncle Bil-
iy. And I am trying to prevent
a crime"
Well. I'm commitin' one
bringin' y out here"
A comber seethed over = the
stern. The spray blined the girl
and partly stranged her. Once
she looked back over her shout
der.
A warm little thrill ran over
ner. He was following, follow
ing. She was at once glad and
worried. Glad that he should
wish to share her danger, wor-
fied for fear he might find out
what desperate need had made
her tempt fate.
A sudden silence, a cessation of
vibration-she came back to az.
Qualities. The dreadful thing
mad happened. The engine had
stopped.
Uncle Billy, quick to appreciate
that this was no time to tinker.
slung out his starboard oar and
pulled with both hands.
Still pulling with his left hand.
he paved back of him for the
three-pronged anchor, shipped the
oar, heaved the iron and made
fast. No
For a minute or two thew drag
ged; then some friendly rock Of
fered purchase, and the boat came
about with her bow head-on to the
wind. They were safe for a time
Uncle Billy was perhaps 800
yards from the dock. Lester could
tow him in as far as he deemed
necessary to go. There was no
possible chance of making a land
ing with the boats.
Il guess I've gone n done It.
Miss Wynne," said Uncle Billy,
rubbing his bleeding knuckles.
Know whut we 60 t. do?"
| Yes. When We get near eonugb
drop over and swim or wade in"
See whut they're dom ?"
pointing to the huge combers ris-
ing past and flinging themselves
like ravening wolves against the
island.
Miss Wynne, we'll never git
ashore thout ONE o. us gittin'
hurt. Four lives depend on level
heads, miss Y amt afraid?"
mo, Uncle Billy. I'm only sor-
ry for all this trouble"
"All right. I'm n bIama Two