Evening star., 1935-01-09

oul PoolIloA suuucAlJ SoAhS AAS1O w
me.
I'VE mustn't stay here" I said
hastily. "That devil Orlof1 can't be
far away, and if he sees that we've
escaped-."
broke OF. I'VE must get down
under the bank and make fHr the
boat" added. DO you think you
car manage tt. Mol,y?"
With the eid Of my hand she scrsn-
bled shakily to her feet.
"Yes, I'm all right, Nick. It's Jerry
I'm thinking of. Odghtn't We"
lie knows what's happened" in
terTupted. ''If he's alive hes on his
way back now. Our best chance is to
lie up under those gorsc bushes and
wait for him there"
She raised no further opposition
and, disregarding the unpleasant pain
that was gnawing at my right shoul-
der, 7 led the way forward to the gate.
From here or to the beach the dts-
tance vas ret r,o-s thar 80 yards.
The loW-!yirg ground between was
protected from the tide by rough
seawall and, under cover Of this bank,
we crept along in single file until we
reached the little patch OF higher
| ground where We had brought the
| dinghy ashore,
To my intense relief it was still
there.
Zone OF us must look out for Jerry"
I said. You'd better do that, Molly,
while we get the boat launched. Keep
behind those bushes, and don't show
yourself unless you see him.
Nodding her head silently, she moved
toward the gorse and, without further
delay, Jimmy and ! set about our
( task. 1t took us some time, for I
could only make use of my left arm.
Jimmy, however, performed his
share Of the work manfully and, after
several pauses for rest, We succeeded
| in tugging our craft to the waters
edge, from which position she could be
pushed off at a moments notice.
This done, we crawled back to where
Molly was lying, and dropped down
alongside of her.
There's no sign of him, Nick" she
whispered. I'm beginning to feel
frightened"
You needn't worry yet" replied.
Hes got that pistol of Dawson's with
him, and If there's any trouble he
won't stick at using it. All We can
do is to wait here until he chooses to
show up"
She glanced round at us both.
You're the most wonderful boy in
the world Jimmy" she said in low
voice. How did you know that We
were locked in, and however did you
manage to get ashore?"
He scratched his head at was like
this, miss. I was sitting up on deck
'aving look at the place when all
of a sudden I see a bloke comm
sneakin' out of the front door.
Soon as I elapped my eyes on i'm
I knew who e was. Gosh I says to
meself, If it amt that blinkin' doctor!
And before the words, as you might
say, was 'ardly out of me mouth, ed
nipped off round the corner and was
Logging it away up the road.
We'll, it didn't take me long to
guess that ed done the dirty on you.
SO of with me boots and shirt and
drops in over the side. The tide was
running a bit strong like, but I amt
what you might call a bad and at
swimming-got a prize for it at the
Battersea baths last year. did.
1T was that bloomin' door that
was the real trouble. The perisher
'ad shut it behind i'm when e come
out and, seeing as there weren't no
time to waste, I Just picks up bit
O. wood and bashes in the winder.
Lucky I did, too, or We wouldn't
'alf be in mess now"
We both stared at him for q mo-
ment without speaking.
James, I said slowly, "aS Miss
O'Brien has remarked, you're bloody
marvel If We ever get out of this"
Look, Nick, look! There he is
straight in front of u.s."
Molly, who had turned round again,
was pointing through the bushes and,
jumping to my feet, 1 caught sight
OF the distant figure of Jerry just
emerging through gap in the hedge
that bounded the lane
He was heading in the direction OF
the factory.
Shall 1 give i'm a whistle, sir?"
inquired Jimmy.
Not bad idea" I agreed.
He inserted two grimy fingers into
; the corners of his mouth and emitted
shrill blast. Jerry pulled up sharply.
For a moment he stood gazing
about him and then. as a second and
still more penetrating summons
echoed through the marsh, he wheeled
round and came hurrying toward US
You'd better tell him, Nick" said
Molly. mo good our both trying to
talk"
Picking his way from one firm tuft
to another until he reached the path,
Jerry broke once more into a steady
run.
Even II We had escaped observation
till then, any further attempt at
! hiding ourselves was obviously futile.
SO. parting the bushes. stepped for
ward into the open. Without a word
Molly slipped through after me.
You can take it easy" I called
out We're quite safe, all three of us. Il
Muddy and dishevelled, his old wa
terproof smeared with dark stains,
: Jerry stumbled hurriedly up the slope.
There was a queer look in his eyes,
which / had never exactly seen before,
look of overwhelming relief, coupled
! with kind of suppressed excitement.