The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-09-28

shore, the automobile came to an abb
rupt stop. Miss arrar jumped
gracefully to the ground. Her austere
escort followed her. He carried two
satchels. She taking one of these,
they ran to the yacht and clambered
unceremoniously aboard. There
seemed to be some discussion with
the one man in charge. Then he went
about his duties and the pretty craft
made for the offing.
We were getting SO near now that
| could read the name of the yacht
in gilt letters at her stern: "The Ar
row." The little pursuer of the auto
mobile leaped toward the yacht as she
pushed of. but Colonel Aloa Gaspard,
revolutionary South American. and
present convoy of Miss Farrar lifted
a stake from the bottom of the yacht,
dealt him blow and sent him hurting
back into the water.
1t was done so quickly that by the
time we came to the spot where the
craft had been moored she was lost in
the dim sea mists, and the wiry for
eigner stood rubbing his aching head
Marvel gave me a quiet direction to
return to the hotel and took the strang-
er In tow. When he put in an ap-
pearance at our rooms several hours
later he briefly stated
"The man who got the ducking was
Venezuelan spy, who it seems has
been watching Gaspard and our young
lady for week. and. learning this, he
was my selected pilot, with the de-
nouncement as you have seen. Again
he asserts that those two satchels
carried by the parties who have skip
ped us contained dynamite
Marvel did not seem to worry any
over the uncertain shape affairs had
| taken. He kept busy in his own
way. / knew he did lot of cabling
and even used the wireless. The sec
ond morning he ushered into our room
a stranger.
This is the gentleman who took
charge of our friends on his yacht,
The Arrow" explained Marvel. We
bowed, and saw that the man was
gentleman.
The promised story, my friend"
intimated Marvel in his effective way.
why, when that young lady and
her military escort bounced aboard
my boat two evenings ago. stated
the man, II had just taken a queer
commission from the police authori-
ties of Galveston. Know me as Adam
Butler, unsuccessful business man. 'n-
valid OF good repute and mild habits,
combining the quest Of health with a
moderate income easily earned
through running a pleasure yacht,
and you will discern that nothing
could be so far fetched as piracy, or
police interference, or affiliation with
anything criminal or revolutionary.
And yet you will soon see that unwill-
ingly | was made an agent in a stir
ring episode that may turn out san
culinary, sensational and fairly inter
national in its scope"
The speaker chose good language
and was clear and direct in his mai
rative.
"The sky was dull and lowering
the bay chopping and streaked witt
yellow splotches when a fiat boa
came creeping along the shore in {
way that told me she was crippled IN
some part of her running gear. This
was the afternoon of the day you
! gentlemen saw me- There were four
men in police uniform aboard One
of them | observed wore a captaincy
button, and as the unwieldy craft
came nearer recognized him.
"'Hello,' he hailed, I know you
and he smiled and waved his hand in
friendly fashion. Remember
"'Captain DiscoIl. I believe
Father of the bride whose party
you took down the coast last week.
added the official. You not only
know your business, my friend, but
you take such good care of your pas
sengers that they have none but the
pleasantest memories. BY the way
"a sudden idea seemed suggested TO
my official friend as his eye rested
on my trim and natty craft. He spoke
some words to his companion and the
police boat was soon alongside.
See here, Mr.. Butler he said to
me, drawing me to one side, you
would guess a long time before you
fixed on what we've got in the hold
of that old tub
"'Yes?'
"T think so. Contraband expresses
1t, in way We have four big boxes
loaded to the brim with fire arms,
weapons and burglar tools confiscated
from prisoners. Once a year we load
them on boat, run out few miles
and sink them. We started today,
but the boat has gone afoul. Again,
we are ordered past the ten-mile linn
it this time. as some of the plumber
has been fished up in the past
see,' 1 observed.
90 1t would be speedy job for you.
What do you say-would you let US
1. Il IL. rr.l---