The Ordway new era., 1917-08-24

The Report Of a Pistol Shot Reverber.
ated Over the Wire.
flotilla of pleasure craft which dotted
the inner harbor with 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 shther of his own oars, Parr
could hear, as he pulled, the creak OF
other onr-locks; and us 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 Claiming cottage but pre-
lude to mad dash with an aim like
unto their own?
Running forward, he cast of the
mooring, then came aft again and,
preparatory to starting the engine, shot
home the ignition switch.
Instantly with muflled detonation and
brilliant flash, the gasoline tank in the
bows exploded.
| Blinded, half stunned, Patria reeled
back into the captains arms, and for
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. !.
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 it. fishing with boathook
for the side of the launch, stood Senor
Juan de Lima.
With much excuse Parr thought this
rescue oddly opportune. Then the
boathook caught the gunwale; the two
small craft swung nearer together. De
Lima leaned perilously out Offering
Patria hand. She caught it. 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.
De Lima was not waiting for him.
Very much to the contrary, the Mexi-
can was deliberately pushing off.
Parr cursed him literally, finding in
this sufficient proof that the explosion
had been no mere accident-even as
there had been nothing adventitious
about the timely coming of De Lima's
boat. Patria was wanted; he, Donald
l Parr, was not-was to be left to burn
i. and drown. That he purposed doing
! neither was beside the point.
But the Mexican's stratagem failed
in Its 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 small but decid.
edly wicked-looking pistol In Patria's
hand.
| f" 'NA Saih VI ihlusieu lTlHul uUU
;. surprise the Mexican dropped the boat
r hook and toppled backward. The har
d Dor took him to Its bosom. Great and
/ greatly satisfying was the splash
q thereof.
Putting up her pistol, Patria seized
e the boathook and with 1t bridged the
e yawning gap. Parr jumped, and fell
l. In heap at her feet.
He wasted no precious moments II
efforts to salvage the jettisoned con
l. spirator. De Lima had fairly earned
his ducking; when sufficiently wear,
h OF foundering nbou: and shrieking fol
help, when his strength failed and h,
J. went under, 1t would be only to fint
# footing in waist-deep water.
o And SO 1t fell out. Starting the en-
Il cine, Parr grasped the whe.I AM
8 shaped true course out from tn,
e anchorage. To his immense eratif,ca
e tion, the boat proved to be fast one
70 Astern pathetic sceno dwindlct
rapidly: Senior Juan de Lima stantlin,
% half out Of water, alternately tearin,,
= his hair and threatening high heaves
Z. with exasperated fsts, hls blk1Ax
2 brightly Illuminated ~ he slexS 11 4
a burning power launeh IsslI sIs;
= TENN en- ukfnn - s.