The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1917-07-19

The Report Of 4 Pistol Shot Rsverbsr.
ated Over the Wire.
f1otilla Of pleasure craft which dotted
the inner harbor with a hundred slen.
der, wraithlike shapes of silver.
The night was clear, calm, and very
still. Sounds travelled far over Its
FURNISHED waters. Even above the dip
and slither of his own oars, Parr
could hear, as he pulled, the creak of
other oar-lOcks; and as he laid along.
side his speed launch and stood up to
help Patria board 1t, he distinctly
heard somewhere near by the drum of
two other motors start up almost ST.
multaneously.
Was one Huroki's? Parr wondered.
Was that gentleman's hasty departure
from the Charming cottage but a pre-
lude to a mad dash with an aim like
unto their own1
Running forward. he cast of the
mooring. then came aft again and,
preparatory to starting the engine, shot
home the ignition switch.
Instantly with muffled defamation and
brilliant flash. the gasoline tank In the
bows exploded.
Blinded, half stunned, Patria reeled
back into the captains arms. and for
a moment remained there, while both
struggled to recover from the shock.
But Parr was less aware of her In that
intimate position than might have
been expected, even the bewildering
circumstances considered. For there
was but one thought coherent in the
turmoil of his mind:
The electric wiring must have been
purposely diverted to the tank in or.
der to cause this explosion when the
switch was closed.
An enemy had done this thing. 80.
Duly he heard voice shouting:
"Mees Claiming! Mees Patria! This
way-I save you!"
Patria disengaged from PARIS arms:
he rubbed his eyes, looked. and saw
another power boat standing along
side. In 1t, fishing with a boathook
for the side Of the launch, stood Senior
Juan de Lima.
With much excuse Purr thought this
rescue oddly opportune. Then the
bOathOOk caught the gunwale; the two
small craft swung nearer together. De
Linn leaned perilOusly out. offering
Patria u hand. She caught 1t, jumped,
landed safely. Parr climbed up ON the
side and prepared to follow. But
while posing for the leap. he saw the
water swiftly widen between him and
safety.
Dc Lima was not waiting for him.
Very much to the contrary. the Mexi-
can was deliberately pushing of.
Parr cursed him literally. finding In
this sufficient proof that the explosion
had been no mere accldent-even as
there had been nothing adventurous
about the timely coming of De Llma's
boat. Patria was wanted; he. Donald
Parr, was not-was to be left to burn
and drown. That he purposed doing
neither was beside the point.
Put the Mexicnn's stratngem failed
In It's upshot. Parr laughed aloud to
see De Lima turn back to re-enter the
cockpit Of his vessel and find himself
nose to nose with q small but decid.
eddy wicked-looking pistol In Patria's
hand.
With scream Of mingled fright md
surprise the Mexican dropped the boat
hook and topplcd backward. The har-
Dor took him to Its bosom. Great and
greatly satisfying was the splnsh
thereof.
Putting up her pistol. PntrIa seized
the bonthook and with 1t bridged the
yawning CUP. Parr Jumped, and fell
In heap mt her feet.
He wasted no precious moments In
efforts to salvage the jettisoned con.
splrntor. De Linn had fairly earned
his ducking; when sufficiently weary
Of fioundering aboue and shrieking for
help. when his strength failed and he
went under, 1t would be only to ind
footing In walst.deep water.
And 80 It fell out. Starting the en-.
CINE. Parr grusped the wheel and
shaped a true course out from the
anchorage. To BIS immense grntldcn.
ton. the bont proved to be a fast one.
Astern n pathetic scene dwindlcd
rapidly: Senior Juan de Lima standing
hnlf out Of water, alternately tearing
his hair and threatening high heaven
with exnspcrnted fists. his plight
brightly Illuminated by the glare Of ..
burning power launch.
(END OF FIRST EPISODE.)