Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-04-17
tcopyrisht by W. q. Chapman,

ne was 0alI way 10 Tie WdISI WhSh
figure, silent and tense as a cat,
eaped at him from among the reeds.
1t was Leboeuf, tracking Lee. Rath-
way, by instinct alone, sprang side
wise just in time to save himself.
Leboeuf fell sprawIing in the morass.
Estelle and Shorty were waiting be-
side the motor boat among the reeds.
Railway had reached the side of the
| boat before Estelle recognized Joyce
in his arms. She sprang toward him
with a cry. But Railway coolly placed
the girl in the bottom, and quickly
the seat The boat, wedged in the
sand, only tilted little as Joyce
struggled
Jim, what does it mean? You
swore-you swore you'd leave her in
the hut" screamed Estelle frantically.
Railway swore at her. She ran at
him like fury, and he dealt her a
blow in the face that struck her to
the ground.
She got up dazed, staggered toward
him, and stood still as the bright
spire of light burst upward from the
burning hut At the same instant a
single pistol shot came from the end
of the promontory, followed by sud
den outcry.
Hold that d-n she-wolf for mo-
ment, Shorty" said Railway, coolly :;
and, as Shorty threw himself upon
Estelle. who had begun to scream
frantically again, he turned aside,
found the bag of gold, and, lifting it
in his arms, staggered to the boat,
and, with a mighty heave, raised it
over the gunwale and placed it in the
bottom.
With a mighty heave of his Shout
ders he pushed the motor boat into
the water.
The shouting on the promontory
broke into yell. Figures came rum
ming toward them; then, at Estelles
screams, broke and doubled back
again. Only Railway had seen-not
Shorty, gasping as he wrestled with
Estelle.
"w-what'll / do with her?' Shorty
gasped.
Railway regarded the pair compla-
Gently. Everything was his; one in
slant now and every care would have
fallen from his shoulders. And there
was that d-n woman screaming
Shorty dealt Estelle a blow that
sent her staggering back. He swung
around to Railway.
"Good bye, Shorty" said Railway
softly, and shot him through the head.
The body tottered and dropped at
Estelle's feet. Railway leaped into
the boat, pushing it from the shore.
AS Estelle ran into the water he felled
her with an oar
Next moment he was at the engine,
and the put-put began. The boat shot
out into the lake. The rattle of the
motor was like music in Railways
ears He held the craft steady with
out difficulty against Joyces incessant
efforts to overturn it. Seeing that she
had too much leeway, he stopped and
frightened the rope that bound her to
the seat.
On the margin of the lake Estelle
stood with arms raised to the bright
ening sky, screaming as If she were de-
mented Suddenly she turned and dis
appeared among the reeds that fringed
the shore.
| Behind the promontory the hut was
going up in vast sheet Of flame.
| PATHWAY chuckled. All his fears
had disappeared forever He looked
at Joyce, who was now lying quiet in
| the bottom of the boat He looked at
the gold. The girl and the goldl He
said that over and over. Already he
was far out upon the breast of the
lake, and the promontory was dwind-
ling behind him.
He looked at the drum of gasoline
m the bow, tried to lift 1t, and assured
himself that it was full. He smiled.
Nothing could thwart his plans He
bent over Joyce.
! ITS all ended, dearie," he said.
"Soon as you nod to show you're
willing to work with me, I'll unfasten
YOU"
| Joyce did not nod, and he continued !:
"You know / don't want to hurt you,
my dear. Just nod to show you won't
try to upset the boat, and I'll set you
Free
| Joyce took no notice. Railway took
the gag out of her mouth. But,
though he had been prepared for an
outburst of invective, such as he
would have expected from Estelle, she
did not utter a word
Railway knew the navigation Of
every river and stream within radius
of hundred miles. AS his motor
boat shot down the short arm of the
lake the promontory disappeared from
view. And 1t seemed to him that a
long chapter in his life was closed
forever
He spoke to Joyce again, and per-
haps little element of unselfishness
In the man made his appeal pathetic !:
1 ftTovna .,a,,sfl la% mo txrfo cfar1 Won