Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-30

CAPTAIN FRANCIS NEWCOMBE, ex-
officer in the great war, who breaks
Shadow V7rne. noted figure OF under
world, and in charge of various big
steals that have set London agog.
PAUL CREMARRE, noted french
thief, who has met Newcombe in
the back waters of the war. along
RUNNELLS. a valet, who has done
some big thefts on his own account.
THE FOURTH sTRAGGLER, who
hears the crooks agree to combine
after the arlnistice and who disap-
FOLLY wICKEs. a fower-girl. whom
Newcombe has adopted and sent "
the idea of inSuring social contacts
of the best before he leaves England
after executing some big hauls. She
is the friend of
trio millionaire, and her guest on
big show place on the Florida keys.
where
MR.. MARLIN. the mad magnate. has
buried more than half a million dol
lars, the existence of which New
combe learns inadvertently from
his beautiful ward. .
HOWARD LOCKE, son of big busi-
ness man. who takes Newcombe and
Runnells to Florida on his steam
IduHSLis Lag AciiS AAA AO'S 1900
Just the turning of a key in
lock! But the water was too high
now the tide was coming in. A
key wasn't any good tonight-the
place wasn't locked only by key,
it was time locked by the tide. He
snatched up the little book and
consulted it hurriedly. 1t would be
low tide tomorrow morning at
quarter past three. Well, tomorrow
morning, then, since he couldn't
have a look at the place tonight.
He could we'll afford the time now.
And meanwhile with the key gone,
the old maniac couldn't do anything
except raise an internal row. and
become even a little more maniacal,
If that were possible. Too bad! But
then, the poor old man probably
wouldn't live very long anyhow!
And then, besides, quite apart from
the tide tonight, there was Run
nells, who
He swept the articles from the
table suddenly back into his pockets.
Where was Runnells? What the
devil was keeping the man? He
should have been back by now!
Captain Francis Newcombe
C"AISliS0 Val kliC AAShIS ANU WolhihS
quickly from the room now, closed
the door behind him. And now
frowned in impatient irritation as he
made his way along the veranda of
the boathouse and down to the
shore. Confound Runnells, anyway.
Where was he. 1t was already be-
ginning to show color in the east,
and the darkness was giving away
to q gray shadowy half-light. In
another quarter of an hour the
dawn would have broken. There
was no time to spare!
He stood for a moment staring
toward the fringe of trees that hid
the path to the house. There was
still no sign of Runnells. With a
quick, muttered execration at the
mans hardness, he turned abruptly
and began to make his way in under
the boathouse. At the spot where
Paul Crelnarre's body lay the slope
OF the shore was very gentle. and
the incoming tide would therefore
cover the ground more rapidly. He
had forgotten that. Paul Cremarre
had only been four or five yards
away from what was then the
waters edge when he had left him,
and unless he wanted to find the
body floating around now. he had
letter
He halted short in his tracks. but
close to the water now. His heart
had stopped. What was that? In
voluntarily now he staggered back
a pace. 1t wasn't light enough to
see distinctly; it was only light
enough to see shadowy things,
things that suddenly moved in the
gloom before him. things that,
from the water, waved sinuously
in the air-like Shiny, monstrous,
snake-like tentacles-that reached
out and crept and wiggled upon the
shore itself. The place was alive
with them. swarming with them!
They were tentacles! They were
feeling out. feeling out every
where, and-God, were they feel
ing out for him. He sprang sharp
ly backward as light breath of air
seemed to have famed his cheek.
He heard a faint pat upon the earth
as OF something soft striking there:
he saw a slithering thing, like a
reptile in shape and movement,
swaying this way and that as
though in search of something upon
the spot where he had stood.
He felt his face blanch. He drew
Rack still further. A dark bIotch
lay near the waters edge-tf1at was
Paul -remarre's body. And now
one OF those sinuous, creeping tent
acles, a gray, viscous. clutching
arm. fell athwart the body--and the
Dody seemed to I move-slowly-
lerkiiy as though 1t struggled itself
10 escape from some foul and
loathsome touch-toward the water.
E0Afaiva ErI~