Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-02

you will be subjected to personal
search before you are. landed on the
other SIDE" He snapped his watch
back into his pocket. shall ind
out If Miss Marlin Is able to see
you?"
Captain Francis Newcombe ex-
amined the glowing tip of his ciga-
rette with every appearance of non
chalance-but the brain of the man
was seething in a fury of action.
He was beaten-in so far as the
existence. the entity. Of character
known as Captain Francis New
combe was concerned-he was
beaten. . This cursed, meddling
fool had beaten him. Damn
that shot that he had missed in the
darkness.
He could not draw his revolver
and fire another and kill this man
mot now. to do that here
there was still half a million dollars.
80 Quite a sop. Mrs. Wickes
didn't count one way or the other
but Paul Cremarre.-that was awk-
ward. The island must be left
in quiet and repose in SO far as
anything pertaining to the attempt
ed robbery was concerned-an in
cident that with his departure was
closed. Paul Cremarre must be
accounted for. Well. the truth
was probably the safest, since
denial would only result in a search
for a third man that Locke knew
should think that Paul Cremarre
had come here as part of the pre-
arranged plan was probably all the
better. It left no lingering
doubts.
He looked up-his eyes cold and
steady on Locke.
Il regret, I shall always regret.
that missed that shot," he said
deliberately; but for whatever
satisfaction it will bring you, 1 ad-.
init now that you have beaten me.
l agree to your terms. l will go;
SO will Runnells-but I can't take
Paul Cremarre. Paul Cremarre is
dead. He died this morning. A
rather horrible death. 1 found him
on the shore a little way from the
waters edge, his clothes in ribbons
in fact, one of his coat sleeves
was completely torn away and"
THE man l was looking for had q
white shirt sleeve" said Locke
quietly.
"CHS SOOA seal Gil Is eHueu Then,
IL that will give you any further
satisfaction" said Captain Francis
Newcombe gruffly. His white shirt
sleeve was the least of it. His
face and throat were covered with
round, purplish blotches, and the
man was absolutely mangled. He
had the appearance of having been
crushed-as they say python
brushes victim in it's folds. And,
damn it, that's not far from what
happened. How he had first come
into contact with the monster
don't know, but he had been in
tight with a gigantic octopus, and
had evidently just managed to crawl
ashore out of the things reach
temporarily. and had died there"
Captain Francis Newcombe laughed
unpleaSantly. THE reason know
this is because l saw the creature
the tide was higher, of course, when
l found the body-come back and
| carry off its prey. You will pardon
me, perhaps. If l do not describe it
in detail. It-er-wasn't nice"
Locke stared at the other for a
moment.
That's a rather strange story" he
said slowly. But l can't see where
it would do you any good to lie
now"
Captain Francis Newcombe help
co himself to another cigarette.
lighted it. and suddenly flung a
mocking laugh at Locke. VI.
NO" he said, I'm afraid that's
the trouble-it wouldn't do me any
good to lie now. And so l might as
well tell you, too, that there's no
use sending that cable to London
about Mrs. Wickes, either. Mrs.
Wickes Is also dead. For, reasons
pest known to myself, 1 did not
choose to tell Polly about the wo-
| mans death, SO 1 fear now that.
lacking that estimable old hag's CO.
operation in the resurrection of
those papers, You will have to re-
sort to telling Polly. after ait.
little something about her cherished
guardian. However. Locke, on the
/ main count, that of notoriety, If II
| depends upon Scotland Yard ever
! getting their man, l think can
give you my personal guarantee
| that she will never be-"
He stopped and whirled sharply
| around.
One half of the French window
was swaying inward.
With low cry, Locke sprang past
| the other.
Polly" he cried.