The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-16
BY f. RAY BAKER.

| diver swooped down from the blue and
snatched a breakfast from placid
| Traverse bay. With a vigorous stride
he started on his twenty minute walk
to the exclusive Harbor Beach colony.
1T won't have her this time next
year unless I get her out west by next
fall" was the trend of Grimess
thought as he passed the slumbering
castles in which the idle wealthy of the
cities sought rustication. Lord
knows driving Archibald's speed
cruiser wouldn't bring enough coin in
two years to do it,"
AS he skirted the cluster OF trees
that sheltered the clubhouse veranda
from the complexion running morning
sun and came within sight of the
Archibald palace. gazing down
absorbed IN cogitation that he all but
collided with a rugged, florid-visaged,
pleasantly rotund little man attired in
blue and wearing an official looking
cap on which golden lighthouse
cleaned.
| "Ahoy!" called the lightkeeper.
| "Veer off or you'll hit this rock of
Gibraltar. What's the matter with yer
compass, me boy?"
AS they came to a halt Grimes was
obliged to smile away his gloom as in
reflection of the beaming. weather.
cracked lines of the others counte-
| nance.
AN how's the wife this mornin' ?"
/
in that genuinely hearty, sympathetic
tone. AN whyfor the big rush about
beginnin' the daily labor? Sure oil
man Archibald amt gettin' up at no
O'Clock for pleasure spin-you can't
tell me that"
mo better" was Grimes's rueful re-
joinder to the first query. I'm going
to take a run out on the bay and see
IL can make the fourth cylinder hit
assit ought to-" he added. The boss
IA. 1Nf -fw1Rf
lining to some speed demon"
Now, amt that too bad about the
wife, observed the lightkeeper. real
commiseration in his voice. "I'n have
me own woman run over to yer shack
this afternoon an see IL she can chase
some o. the gloom away. BY the way.
O. course you amt heard the startlin
news from the springs
Thank you, captain; hate to leave
her there alone all the time. What
| startling news do you mean?"
"Mebbe you wouldn't call it start
lin" responded the captain, a broad
grin manifesting his enjoyment of the
role of a sensation monger. It's Jest
the little matter o. $4,000 bein' stole
from the First National last night or
early this mornin'. The safe was
blowed open in a regular professional
manner. I jest happened over to the
Springs at an unusual hour and there s
excitement galore A thousand dol
for the capture of the burglar, dead or
alive
Grimes started.
But don't worry, me boy" went on
the captain. THE First National has
plenty to make good all the savin's &C
counts, and the loss of 10000 amt
goin' to start no run on the institution
They say it looks like a one-man job.
You better look sharp on the bay. He
might be stickin' around somewhere.
tho it amt likely he tarried long in
the vicinity. Well, I've gossiped long
enough. Gotta be movin' on"
As the lightkeeper, with a wave of
hand, vanished behind the trees.
Grimes hurried out on the Archibald
dock, where the Lightning was
moored. He drew the boat to the
landing by means of the painter:
leaped aboard, and, STOPPING. entered
the little cabin that sheltered the en-
CINE and crew in stormy weather.
When he Strengthened up inside the
cabin Grimes looked into the barrel OF
revolver clutched in huge, hairy
hand. A giant of a man with bushy
brown whiskers lowered back of the
weapon.
welcome, little stranger said the
man with the gun, champing viciously
on cud of tobacco.
| Grimes grew white beneath the tan
and braced himself along the wall of
the cabin. Such a situation was
enough to unnerve the most veteran
soldier of misadventure.
How Icing will it take to get this
/, here little racer inter action? in
Quired the master of ceremonies as
he straddled a stool and waved the re-
volved in the direction of the six
! cylinder motor Manhattan Landing
will be our port of demarkation, an
we can't get there any too quick"
Grimes resorted to strategy
clumsy. as 1t proved-for loophole
of escape.
IT need gas before we can start" he
said. Il can get some up at the cot
The big man gri7ned with savage
sarcasm, displaying two rows OF sharp,
uneven yellow teeth.
mo, you don't do nothin' of the
kind" he announced in tones that car
ried conviction. II looked inter the
little old tank and there's enough to
carry US to Manhattan. all right; an
the sparkplugs is all o. X. and theres
plenty Of cylinder oil. When do we
start %
Abandoning for the present all at
= tempts to evade the issue. Grimes
switched on the spark. procured the
? crank and spun the motor. 1t started
on the second trial, spluttering expos
tulaticns until the cylinders responded
5 to the friction warmth and the gas
Z began a steady flow. Grimes unleash
; ed the Lightning from the dock and
! / let in the clutch. under the wary eye
/ of his captor In a few moments the
r speeder was skimming past Sentinel
Light, blowing two ridges OF foam
Say" suddenly remarked the unin-
rited passenger. 81 have been study
{ ing you and 1t seems I've known you
, Your name don't happen to be
l Grirnes7''
Grimes turned quickly. keeping one