Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-02


the sun had gone to rest. The first
shadows Of dusk We're closing in, be-
tokened by thickening Of the smoke
fog into which the Waterbug slowly
plOwed. To port dimmng shore line:
to starbOard, aft and dead ahead, water
and air merged in two boat lengths.
Barlow leaned through the piothousc
window, one hand oii the wheel, strain
ing his eyes Oh their course. Suddenly
he threw out the clutch, shut down his
throttle control with one hand and
yankI with the other ut the cord
which lOosed the Waterbug's shrill
whistle.
Dead ahead, almost upon them, came
an answering tOot.
Il thought heard gas boat" Bar
low exclaimed. .Suiferin Jerusalem.
Iii, there
He threw his weight on the wheel,
sending 1t hard over The cruiser still
had way on. The momentum Of her
ten ton weight scarcely had slackened,
and she answered the helm. Out Of
the deceptive thickness ahead loomed
the sharp, taring bow of another forty
footer, steering quickly as her pilot
sighted them. She was upon them and
abreast and gone, with II watery purl
Of her bow wave, a subdued mutter Of
exhaust, passing SO near that an active
man could have leaped the space be-
tween.
"Sufferin' jerusalem Barlow repeat.
ed, turning to Stella. did you see
that, Mrs. Jack? They got him.
Stella nodded. She, too, had seen
Monohan seated on the afterleck, hts
head sunk on his breast, irons On his
wrists. A glimpse, no more.
'That'll help some,' Barlow grunted
Quick work. But they come blame
near cuttin' us down, beltin' along ut
ten knots when you can't see forty
/ feet ahead"
An empty beach greeted them at
Tumbling creek. Reluctantly Stella
babe Barlow turn back. II would soon
be dark, and Barlow said he would
be taking chances OF piling on the
shore before he could see it o. getting
lost In the profound black that would
shut down on the water With daylights
end
But by luck Barlow made his way,
laundering fairly into the landing at
the foot Of the path that led to the
bungalow as II the cruiser knew the
way to her old berth. And as he reach
ed the float the front windows ON the
hilock broke out yellow, pale blurs in
the smoky night.
well, say,"-Barlow pointed-"l bet
nickel Jacks home. See? Nobody
but him would be in the house"
I'm 60 up" Stella said.
"All right. | guess YOU know the
path better'n do" Barlow said "In
take the Bug around into the bay"
Stella ran up the path. She halted
halfway up the steps and leaned
against the rail To catch her breath.
then she went on. Her step was noise
less. for tucked In behind II cushion
aboard the Waterbug she had found an
old pair of her own shoes, rubber soed,
and she had put them On to ease the
ache in her feet born of thirty-six
hours incascment In leather. She
gained the door without sound. It
was wide open and IN the middle Of
the big room Jack Fyfe stood with
hands thrust deep in his pockets, star
Ing absently at the floor.
| She took Il step or two inside Fyfe
did not hear her: he did not look up
Jack"
He gave ever so Sigh; start,
glanced up. stood with head thrown
back little But he did not move or
answer, and Stella. looking ut him. see
ing the flame that glowed in his eyes.
could not speak. Something seemed
/ to choke her, something that was a
strange compound Of relief and Devil
derment and slow wonder at he.-
selfat the queer. unsteady pounding
Of her heart.
How did you get way up here?" he
asked at last.
Linda wired last night that Charlie
was hurt, ! got machine to the
Springs Then Barlow came down this
afternoon looking for you. He said
you'd been missing for two days. So
| II
She broke Off. Fyfe was walking to-
ward her with that peculiar light foot
ed step Of his. Il queer, tense took on
his face
"Nero fiGdled when Rome was burn
ing he said harsEly. did you come
To- sing while my Rome goes Ip IN
smoke"
A little half strangled sob escaped
her. She turned To 20, but he caught
her by the arm.
"l'hcrc. lady" he said. with n swift
change of tone 81 didn't incan 10 slash
ut you. suppose you moan all right
but Just now. with everything gone to
/ the devil To look up and see you here
/ I've really got an ugly temper Stella
! ana It's pretty near the surface These
days, don't want to be piled and
syinnothl2cd with. want TO fight |
.s -~.A ~, go.