Gilpin observer., 1917-10-04


really engrossing, which was of course
the love Of Patria Charming and DON
aid Parr.
1--WE can feel sure of only one thing
that he'll strike and strike swiftly
and unexpectedly. It's open war be-
tween you now-war to the knife.
You've publicly denounced him. he
must either disappear or find some
way to silence you permanently.
wish I knew! I wish knewp
Anxiously, pacing the confines Of the
sitting room, Parr kneaded his hands
together. The telephone brought him
to an abrupt pause.
"Hello?" he called, receiver to ear.
A look of perplexity clouded his face.
| "Who?" he demanded. whats
that?"
He called impatiently. "Hello?
Hello?' then juggling the hook, said,
"Oh he has?" ungraciously, and hung
up.
what is it?" the girl demanded.
"The answer to my yriddle-perhaps,"
he informed Patria. II don't know.
It's queer business. Whoever called
up said all in a breath: T'm a friend
never mind my name. Tell Miss Chan.
ming to be on her guard against trouble
tonight at the Charming docks near
Bayonne. Huroki means mischief-!"
Then he stopped short, with a sort Of
gurgle, as If somebody had clapped a
hand across his mouth. I heard
bang, as If a receiver at the other end
had fallen on something hard. And
then Central reported, The party has
hung up What the deuceI"
Patria was on her feet. 1.-THE Bay
onne docks! she repeated thought
fully.
where your output is stored pend
ing shipment to Europe" Donald ex-
planned. "Bertram told me this after
noon that there must be seven billions
Of dollars worth of arms, ammunition
and other explosives accumulated
there. If Huroki could manage to
touch spark to that-w
Donald! You don't think-?"
II think he'd have hard job doing
it, but I know he'd try If he thought
Of it-out of sheer, cussed hankering
to get even with you, If for no more
weighty reason"
Donald picked up his hat and threw
light topcoat over his arm.
You're not going"
II surely am. I mean to have a look
over the ground down there and have
extra guards posted before midnight
the traditional ounce of prevention.
You needn't worry; it's no great trip:
I'll be back a little after twelve. and
I'll call you up as soon as I can get
to a telephoner
But it was some time before he was
able to unlock her arms and find the
door.
In the course Of the next two hours
the girl fretted herself almost beyond
endurance. Her disappointment on
answering the door, at the end of that
period, in response to a ring, was
acutely painful; the man on the thresh-
old was not her Donald come back in
safety, but his lieutenant, Ryley, seek
ing Captain Parr on q matter of press
ing business.
Informed as to the errand which
had called Donald abroad. the detec-
tive manifested profound uneasiness.
HE oughtn't to have gone Alone" he
protested. "He ought to have gotten in
touch with me first anyhow. That tel
ephone message sounds like plant to
get him out. You hadn't ought to
have let him gow
II did my best to dissuade him-he
wouldn't listen! What can we do?"
'Tm going after him.
"Tm going with you. then"
"Please, miss-no!"
Ryley's protests were unavailing.
Hastily snatching up hat and wrap.
Patria insisted on accompanying the
man.
How long will it take us?" she
asked as they hurried up the street, in
search of a taxicab.
II don't know. 1t depends on the
train service-and l don't know how
that runs this late ut night"
wouldn't 1t be quicker for us to 60
by water? I've got fast power boat
in commission at the North River
Yacht club. If 1t would save time"
Ryley was emphatically of the opin-
lon that it might save great deal of
time to go by power boat.
Before midnight, then, they were
afioat; the boat speeding down the
quiet Hudson, Patria ut the wheel,
Ryley standing on lookout in the bows.
At about half after twelve they
rounded Paulus hook, and hearing a
heavy detonation roll across the wa
ters, looked up to see the southwest
ern sky aglow with flame.
Up forward Ryley saluted this phen-
nomenon with a smothered impreca-
ton denoting confirmation of his direst
apprehensions.
In the stern Patria made no sound.
But for full minute she was quite
sure that her heart had ceased to func-
tlon. When she breathed again, she