Evening star., 1936-02-20
CHAPTER XXXIIT.
SHOT IN THE DARK,

SHOI IN IdE DARK.
S6T TE COULDN'T convince
- Farnsworth, however, and
when Hannula returned
a. Il and told the crew, they
decided it was time to take action.
They told some of the fellows who've
been losing money all Summer and
decided to go into action. They went
to the canneries first, to get Farley.
They were going to force him to go
to the traps with them. They missed
him.
John came in about that time, but
they were beyond stopping. He tried
to reason with them. Seems he's
trying to protect the canneries, for
some reason.
"Then he sent us after you. Nikki,
he said that you owned the can
neries.'
THAT do?" questioned Anne. be-
wildered.
"Yes, that's exactly what he said,
and he said to tell you that he was
ready to prove it,"
Anne shook her head. Hes mis-
taken, but maybe can pretend long
enough and convincingly enough to
check them before they get into
trouble"
John said you must, that if they
harm any one they'll be the ones to
suffer. not the guilty ones"
The engine faltered, and Orvi went
back to join George. Anne stepped
outside into the wind. The rain had
stopped but huge waves dashed over
the bow and sent her hurrying back
to the cabin. She thought of other
storms, of the one the night of
Iucinda's death.
And then the waves grew less rough,
the wind seemed to die away, they
were coming into the cove. Anne
stepped out again. She saw the flicker
of many lights. They were in a maze
Of fishing boats, gilnetters, traWlers,
and cruiser was nosing the piling
of an old wharf, the wharf that held
the fish trap building.
Anne looked at the cruiser and
closed her eyes in quick pain. The
Anti What was it doing there?
Get into this" Orvi threw a rub
ber coat about her. He went back
to the pilot house, and they maneu-
vered their way through the boats
to spot near the Anti.
A barge was nearby, its surface
cleaning with its catch of fish. They'd
grown bold, this night of storm, with
every other boat off the water during
closed hours. A cruiser was near it,
nosldescript, but familiar, the one
which had cut across the Sorki net.
And the mob spirit was there. Voices
rising in anger, then sinking to a
low mutter more ominous than anger.
Unthinking. unheeding, that single
voiced monotone would follow to lead
of the most reckless.
A searchlight from the Anti flashed
on, outlining the fish trap and build
ings. Anne recognized then. 1t was
on the beach near them that John
had thrust her behind the thicket
when he heard the voices.
But what should she do? The plat
form of the trap wharf would make
stage. She would go there. The
Anti was in the way, but she could
climb over that
She started, reached the edge of
the Nikki, then paused. Some one
called Anne"
She turned back. Something whizzed
past her face simultaneously she
heard the report of a gun. She swung
twoard the Anti and gasped in horror.
On the bow of the boat, waiting
to step to the wharf ladder, stood
Lee Farnsworth. Behind him black
hillside. before him the maze of boats.
He looked about, an expression of
ludicrous astonishment on his face.
Anne gave half-articulate cry.
That look had changed to pain. The
fat figure slumped. fell forward
sprawling over the edge of the Anti.
Stunned silence hung over the
scene for a moment, then cry rang
out. Get the man who fred that
shot!"
Tom Farley's voice. 1t came from
behind Anne. She felt a boat bump
peculiar thud she couldn't identify,
then pandemoaium broke loose.
Engines started, but ridin>, lights
f1aShed on as though they'd been
doused by universal wave, and in
the darkness came high, sharp COM
mand.
Give us a light to carry him back
to the cabin"
A single light focused on the scene.
Anne turned to see from whence it
came. In boat to the left and be-
hind her, stood John Neuman. It was
his searchlight.
Now all the cruisers lights were
cleaning The big motor was pulls
ing, and then, searchlight ahead, it
shot out into the river, leaving churn-
ing waters behind.
The mass of boats disintegrated,
disappearing into the darkness, until
only two remained. One nosed steadily
toward them
John Neuman's voice came eau
tiously from this, as it moved abreast.
'Get Nikki out of this" he ordered
Orvi, 'beach her if you have to, then
put back to the wharf without her."
And then his boat was gone. They