The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-10-21
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:. e. e.! !E s ": :.
U Louis
Joseph Vance

80 | got up when tho first streak Of
iight showed In tho siSy--~thercd been
q young oloud-burst Just before that.
and was soaked TO my skin--and
struck off across the oausse for
Gcd'knew where. DO Lorgncs and l
had fixed that. II anything did hap.
pen 10 separate va. we'd each strike
for Lyons and tho one who got there
first would walt for the other az the
Hotel Terminus. But before l could
do that. ! had 60 find a railroad. and
didn't dare 30 Mlllau.wny.
thought. because the chances were
tho gendarincs would be waiting
there TO nab the first bird that blew
In all covered with mud ana carry.
Ing a hag full Of diamonds.
"I'd managed 10 hold onto tho grip
thru I, all. you aeei hut before that
day was done I wished Id lost II. The
damned thing got heavier and
heavier TN II must have weighed a
gross ton. II CALLED my hands and
rubbed my legs TN they wcro sore
was sore all over. anyway,
inside and out
"some time during the morning I
climbed out OF those bum mounds
they call couronnes 20 SEQ n could
sight any place TO set food and
drink. preferably drink. The sun
had dried my clothes on my back
and then gone on TO mako Il good
Job by soaking up all the moisture In
my system. I figured / was losing
eleven pounds an hour by evapora.
tton alone. and expected 20 arrive
wherever l did arrive. n I ever
arrived anywhere. looking like an
early Egyptian prune.
The view from the couronne didn't
show mo anything ! wanted TO see.
only n number OF men in the dis.
lance. spread on, over the face Of
the cansse and auartersng u like
beaglcs. I rrckoned I knew what
sort Of game they were hunting. and
slid down from that couronne and
travelled. Hut they'd seen me. and
somebody sounded the view .hailoo.
II was grand exercise for me and
great sport for them. When I
couldn't tottcr another yard fell
into hole IN the sround--one OF
those avcnA--and crawied into a sort
Of little cave. and lay there listening
TO the suck and Kurgie OF millions
OF gallons Of nice cool water running
TO waste under my feet. and me
dying the death 81 dog with thirst.
AFTER a while couldn't stand IL
any longer. crawled cut prepared
70 surrender give up tho plumber.
and Hex the boots OF any man who'd
slip mo a cup OF water. But for
some reason they'd given up the
chase. I saw no more OF them. who.
ever they were. And a little later
found PEASANTS hut. and wntered
myself till swellcd UP like pots.
oned PUP. They give mo a brush.
down. there. and something 10 eat
besides. and put me on my way 70
MiiIau. II seemed that I was a hun.
drcd miles from anywhere else. 20 II
was Mlllau for mine II II meant a
life sentence In French prison.
Il sneaked into tho town after
dark. and took tho first train north.
Nobody took any notice OF mo. /
couldn't SEQ the use Of going all
round Robin Hoods barn. AZ ia
have had 10 In order 70 mako Lyons.
BY the time ia got there. de Lorrnes
would have given up and COMO on TO
Paris"
/ Phinuit finished his drink. "rfI say
u was a gay young party. The next
time feet the cali 20 crime. believe
me, I'm going out and snatch nurs.
Ing bottles from kids asleep In their
prnms But they must be
asleep
Monk lifted himself by section.
from his chair.
1T was a good yarn first time I
heard II" he unused aloud. But now.
I notice. even the sybaritc Il getting
restless
In the course Of Phinul,'s nara.
tive the black disks Of night franesi
By the polished brass circles OF the
stern ports had faded out into dusky
violet. then into n lighter lilac. final.
" into a warm yet tender blue. Now
the main deck overhead was a sound.
ing board for thumps and rustic OF
many hurried feet.
pilot come aboard. you thinkr'
Phinuit inquired: and added. as Monk
nodded and cast about for tho visored
white cap OF his office: Didn't know
pilots were such early birds"
They're not. as rule. But II
you treat EN- right they'll listen TO
go ~y.r