Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-02
By Henry

S lS1gneQ.J MATTHEW HOLMES.
That win give them enough to go on"
said Matt. ~. -
: They got into the boat. which was tho
usual type Of fast tlirty.foot open launch.
Matt was thoroughly familiar with its opera
ton. having, in fact, purchased it for Uncle
Jerry's use the year before his serious i'll.
ness and having often availed himself Of it
for pleasant little excursions of his own.
He now cast off and started the engine, and
a moment later they were heading out upon
a course which, according to MATHS not un-
skilled calculations, should carry then, within
sight OF the dealer in contraband.
History repeats itself" said he to Nancy.
" In the old days 1t was pirates, or privateers.
or slavers. Then later on smugglers Of COM
smodities and .Chiharnen, drugs, and now In
our glorious times, after the world has been
purEed and cleansed by a great purifying
war, It's kidnapers, and anarchists. and
booze, but principally booze.
81 must say" said Nancy, We seem to
have made the world safe for depravity.'
'Quite So" said Matt, and unsafe for the
victims Of the income tax. I wouldn't so
much mind going to Jail for having killed
somebody, but I dread the thought OF
languishing behind the bars for having bet
on the wrong horse"
lis that your troubled" Nancy asked.
Its apt to be-" said Matt incautiously.
-- ullIES L SdIl SCI q 1ldOSNS ~ puS III yOHl
chum." q
Nancy stiffened in her wicker launch chair.
$50 that's the reason for your ZEAL" said
she. 81 might have guessed as much. To
tell the truth. I wondered why you were will.
ing to take such a chance with only your
squirt gun and q crate opener"
'Mattflikewise stiffened. Both were feeling
the reaction Of their nights work and loss
of sleep. "Call it that IT, you like" he an.
sweted shortly. THE baser motive is APP,
to be the most conspicuous"
u think" said Nancy coldly, THAT We
had better drop the question Of motives until
We get some results" and then with purely
feminine consistency she added: How did
Mr.. Taylor happen to invite you to stop on
here. anyhow? He told us that he was
through with you"
WELL" said Matt. II suppose it was
partly because I was not through with him.
After all. blood is thicker than water"
And So" said Nancy, not having much
use for water except in your bath, you
thought you might bleed him a little"
1T seemed to be an open game" said Matt
defendinEly. 20. look here. what's the use
Of starting another fght?"
~ quite agree with you" said Nancy.
F." Suppose we preserve an armed neutrality
until we've finished our nights work.
,"Right.o." said Matt, and turned his at.
tentfon to the engine, which was notrunning
as smoothly as described in the prospectus
setting forth its qualities.
This proved to be a loose electric wire con.
%nection, and the motor settled presently into
its steady, quiet hum.
Looking at his watch, Matt saw that 1t
was nearly two o'clock.
They quickly covered three miles. approx.
mately the distance Matt thought, and, lock-
ing shoreward, he saw what he took to be
the light in the mansard back window of the
old Putney place. A few moments later
Nancy, sitting silently beside him as he held
the Wheel. gave his forearm q warning
squeeze.
"Therel she whispered, pointing ahead
and a little to port, which Is to say seaward,
as they had been running southwest.
Mats night eyes, recently a little strained
from unskilled nocturnal, operation of his
typewriter, could see nothing at first. Then
he discovered what looked like q high. but
rather solid chimney rearing against light
less sky. His yachting experience told him
Immediately that this column must be the
masts of a sailing vessel almost, but not
quite aligned. Then from the fact that they
did not seem to be growing perceptibly
nearer, he concluded that she must be under
way, and heading out to sea. Not wishing
immediately to overhaul, he slowed the
engine.
Were just in time" said he to Nancy.
That's our boat and she's clearing out. She
looks like a small fishing schooner with mo-
tor power. There are about Il thousand ey-
actly like her in these waters, and It's going
10 be no ci1ch to identify her."
"Why not follow her and see where she
goes?" Nancy asked. -.
Fol all we know she may be bound for
the Bahamas said Matt.
"Well, then, let's follow her until it gets
light enough to give her a good looking over,
-r ,"n vorxS 1,os,n cp,,,othir~ ,1e;ti1- tn ln.
scribe"
"All right said Matt. Lets see how
much gas we've got"
The tank. proved to be nearly fun and
there were also two unopened five gallon
cans in the stern. Wherefore, Matt fell into
the wake Of the schooner, keeping at a dis
tance which enabled him barely to see her
spars against the sky and which he knew
must render the low launch invisible from
her deck; for there was az haze on the
waters surface which blotted out even the
bigger bulk OF the schooner's hulk.
Matt leaned toward Nancy. She's got a
big: powerful engine" said he. land it's wei,
mufied Gown. so tina, you can barely hear
the exhaust. That looks phoney for a fisher.
man. and she's fast. We're running about
twelve. | should say, The average boat OF
Iser sort would scarcely do half that"
a few minutes later a siren. far in the dis
tatiSe ol.cu 'Houi My siSai ~
Goleful warning at fixed intervals. "Fos
coming In" said Matt. and switched on the
tiny pinnacle light OF the compass. p
For about half All hour they held on in
their pursuit. Then. straining his eyes
ahead into the deepening%nElrS, Matt failed
to see dark guiding spars, which had
buiked up against the lesser opacity Of the
sky He INCREASED his Speed. but at the end
of several rdnutes had failed to catch an
other GLIMPSE of the schooner.
!. llash lis" he EroWlea. they must have
heard us and change t',uii course" and he
stopped the motor TO ..ss4en. Far off to port,
but With no aceur,teSssnse Of location, they
could hear the low put-pat.put Of the vessels
exhaust.
" 'Fraid we've lost her" said Matt. ana
started his motor again. But With this runs