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Show V Y V V SANNIJTERME IzrzUlTtA 7T&.ir jr RAY WA1TER-- F COriUOHT CorirAKy 1909 SYNOPSIS. With an exclamation, Orme seized and swung it over the steering-whee- l to the right. At your service. He smiled, and turned J)is eyes for an instant on her companion. The face of the Japanese was a study. His eyes were narrowed to thin slits, and his mouth was formed into a meaningless grin. Orme spoke to the Japanese in ht Maku has confessed, French. He is under arrest. said. The face of the Japanese did not change. Do you understand? asked Orme, still in French. There was no answer, and Orme turned to the girl and said, in At the expense of a soiled hat Robert Orme saves from arrest a girl in a black car who has caused a traffic jam There she is, he cried, and then: louring ' Pn State street. He buys a new hat an 1 Excuse me for taking the wheel that in ( a five dollar bill with: given change Kememtier the person you pay this to, way, but I was afraid Id lose her. on second time he helps the I dont see her, said Porter. lady in the black car, and learns that in Tom and Bessie Wallingham they have No; but something dark cut off oiutual friends, but gains no further hint the lights of that steamer. Hold her f her identity. He discovers another inHe let go the wheel and peered scription on the marked bill, which, In a so. rutile attempt to decipher it, he copies ahead. and places the copy In a drawer in his apartment. Senor Pontol, South AmeriPresently they both saw a spot of can, calls, and claims the marked bill, blacker blackness in the night. Porurme refuses, and a fight ensues in which Poritol ts overcome. He calls In ter set the motor at Benor Alcatrante, minister from his counlantern?" Have you got a bulls-ey- e try, to vouch for him. Orine still refuses to give up the bill. Orme goes for a walk asked Orme in an undertone. and sees two attack Alcatrante. He French: Yes, in that locker. rescues him. Japs Returning to his rooms I dont think he understands this Orme is attacked Orme stooped and lighted the lanby two Japs who effect a forcible exchange of the marked tern in the shelter of the locker. language. bill for another. Orme finds the girl of "Now run up alongside, he said, "Apparently not," she replied, in the black car waiting for him. She a 10 wants the bill. Orme tells his story. She same tongue. the need ask if and help. they recognizes one of the Japs as her father's Tell me," he went on, are you The outline of the disabled boat butler. Maku. The second inscription on the bill is the key to the hiding place of now grew more distinct. Porter there of your own will?" Important papers stolen from her father. No . Both Japs and South Americans want the swung around toward it and called: Orme and the "Girl start out in Has he the papers? Need help? fapers. car In quest of the papers. In I think so. I dont know. After a moment wait, a voice rethe university grounds in Evanston the See if you can manage to get hiding place Is located. Maku and an- plied: other Jap are there. Orme fells Maku I him, and I will help you into our me past to tow Yes. You Chicago. and the other Jap escapes. Orme finds In boat." Makus pocket a folded slip of paper. He pay you. takes the girl, whose name is still unIll try. She nodded, with a brave It was a voice which Orme recog-inze- d known to him, to the home of a friend in to show reassurance. effort Evanston. Returning to the university who as that of the Japanese grounds Orme gets in conversation with a had been with Maku in the attack Orme frowned at the Japanese. the at station. They guard near a motor boat in trouble In the darkWhat are you doing with this young at the Pere Marquette. ness on the lake. lady?" he demanded. half-spee- d . life-savi- Can't do that, answered Porter. take you in to Evanston." No! The tone was expostula-tory- . "I know why he went out so far," "I go to Chicago. I fix engine "He is running pretty soon. remarked Porter. without lights. At this moment Orme raised his "That in itself is suspicious, isnt lantern and directed its light into the It? Orme asked. other boat. It shone into the blinking Why, yes, I suppose so though eyes of the Japanese, standing by the people aren't always as careful as motor. It shone Was he dreaming? Great Heaven! they might be. Our own lights arent Orme could not believe his eyes. The lighted, you see. Have you any clue at all as to light revealed the face of the one where she is? person he least expected to see for, the seated on a cushion at the forward from the direction Only sounds came from just before the ex- end of the cockpit, was the girl! plosions stopped. She had headway CHAPTER VII. enough to slide some distance after that, and I'm allowing for it and for A Japanese at Large. the currents. With the lake as it is, What was the girl doing out there she would be carried in a little. in the company of her For nearly half an hour they contin- in mid-lakenemy? Orme had seen her enter the ued straight out toward mid-lakOrme noticed that there was a slight house of her friends in Evanston; had with the unswell. The lights of Evanston were bidden her good-nigh- t now mere twinkling distant points, derstanding that she was to make no far away over the dark void of the further move in the game before the waters. coming morning. She must have left We the house soon after he walked away. Porter shut off the power. Had she known all the time where must be pretty near her, he said. the Japanese wss? Had she hunted They listened intently. Perhaps I steered too far south, him out to make terms with him? if that were the case, her action indisaid Porter at last. He threw on the power, and sent cated a new and unsuspected distrust the boat northward in slow, wide of Orme himself. Her failure to call circles. The distant steamship had for help when Orme and Porter came made progress toward the northeast up in their launch seemed to show bound, perhaps, for Muskegon, or that her presence in the other boat some other port on the Michigan was voluntary. And yet Orme could shore. She was a passenger steam- not believe that there ' was not some er, appparently, for lines of portholes simple explanation which she would s were marked by welcome the first chance to make. He and dots of light There was no other could not doubt her. The immediate thing to do, howsign of human presence to be seen on the lake, and Ormes glance ex- ever, was to find out just what she depectantly wandered to her lights now sired. Suppressing his excitement, he called out: and then. Girl! At last, while he was looking at it, At the same time he turned the lanafter a fruitless search of the darkness, he was startled by a strange tern so that his own face was ilThe lights of the luminated. phenomenon. Mr. Orme! she cried, rising from An steamer suddenly disappeared. You here?" her seat. instant later they shone out again. CHAPTER VI. Ill Continued. e deck-window- , ijf No understand." Yes, you do understand. You unwhen you well enough derstood robbed me this evening. No understand, the Japanese repeated. The girl, meantime, had moved The two slowly from her position. boats were close together. Suddenly, after a swift glance from Orme, the girl stepped to the gunwale and leaped across the gap. Orme reached forward and caught her, drawing her for a brief instant close into his arms before she found her footing in the cockpit. 4 he whispered, and she Splendid; tossed her head with a pretty smile of relief. Porter had been standing close by, Is there the boathook in his hands. anything more to be done?" he asked of Orme. Yes, wait a moment. The Japanese had made no move to prevent the girls escape. Indeed, r while she was leaping to balanced himself and turned boat. to his motor, as though to continue the work of repair. called Orme, "you Now, then, must give me those papers. No understand. The Japanese did not even look up from his task. Give me Orme turned to Porter. the boathook, he said, and, taking it, he hooked it to the gunwale of the other boat, drawing the two crafts together. His intention was to use the boathook to bring the Japanese to terms. But the Oriental was too quick. His apparent Indifference vanpounce, he ished, and with a cat-lik- e seized the boathook and snatched it from Ormes grasp. The action was so unexpected that Orme was completely tah'-- by surprise. He made ready, however, to leap in unarmed, but the Japanese thrust the blunt end of the boathook at him, and the blow, which struck him in the chest, sent him toppling He was saved from tumbackward. bling into the cockpit by Porter, who caught him by the shoulders and helped him to right himself. The two boats tossed for a moment like corks in the water. When Orme again leaped to the gunwale, the Japanese was using the boathook to push the craft apart. A final shove widened the distance to six or eight feet. The jump was impossible. Even if the boats had been nearer together it would have been folly to attempt an attack. Stepping down into the cockpit, Orme bent over the girl, who had She sunk down upon a cushion. seemed to be content that he should play the game for her. "What is wrong with his motor?" Do you know? he said. 1 She answered in an undertone: He shut off the gasoline-supply- . wasn't looking. He didnt see. "Good for you. Girl! he exclaimed. Where did you do it? At the tank? "No Unfortunately the valve is at the carbureter. Oh, she continued, we must get the papers! Are you Orme turned to Porter. willing to take a risk? he asked. The Anything in reason. Of course, I don't ungrinned. derstand what's going on, but I'll back you. This is a good, stout tub we are I want you to in. Orme hesitated. ram her nose into that other boat. Porter shook his head. Thats going pretty far," he said. I don't know that there is warrant for it. It won't need to be a bard bump, I dont want to Orme explained. hurt the iellow. Then why ?" To frighten him into giving up some papers. Porter looked straight into Ormes Do the papers belong to eyes. you? he demanded. No. Orme spoke quietly. "They belong to this young lady or, rather, to her father. This Japanese, and the the-othe- n life-sav- Ff ,f". jfr I Ferd Too Fir South. other one, there on the shore, stole them. What is the lady's name? I cant tell you that. But the police It isnt a matter for the police. Please trust me, Mr. Porter. The stood irresolute. If this boat Is damaged. I'll make It good five times over, continued Orme. Oh, it wouldn't hurt the boat. A few scratches, perhaps. It's the other boat I'm thinking of. Its pretty grim business, I know. remarked Orme. The younger man again studied Ormes face. "Can you give me your word that the circumstances would justify us in ramming that boat? It flashed over Orme that he had no idea what those circumstances were. He knew only what little the girl had told him. Yet she had assured him again and again that the papers were of the greatest importance. True, throughout the affair, thus far, with the exception of the blow he had given Maku, the persons concerned had offered no dangerous violence. The papers mysterious about information might contain South American mines as little Poritol had suggested; they might hold the secrets of an international syndicate. Whatever they were, it was really doubtful whether the necessity, of their recovery would justify the possibility of slaying another man. Perhaps the girl had unconsciously exaggerated their value. Women who took a hand 'in business often lost the And sense of relative importance. yet, she had been so sure; she had herself gone to such lengths. Then, too, the South Americans had hired a burglar to break into her fathers house, and now this Japanese had abducted her. Yes, it was a serious life-sav- game. Orme answered Porter. my word, he said. Porter nodded and I give you tightened his lips. "At the very least, that fellow has tried to abduct this young lady," added Orme. All right, go. said Porter. 5 -- Let her The other boat had drifted about feet away. Orme called out: Hello, there, Japanese. Will you give up the papers? No answer came. If you wont, cried Orme, we are going to ram you. exclaimed the girl sudOh, no! We mustnt drown him. denly. We shant, But we said Orme. will give him a scare. Then, in a Do you hear? louder voice; The only reply was the tapping of metal on metal. The Japanese, It seemed, was still trying to find out what was wrong with his motor. Well, then," Orme said to Porter, well have to try it But use low speed, and be ready to veer off at the last minute." He'll try to fend with the boat hook, said Porter. If he does. Ill get him. How? "Lasso. Orme picked up a spare painter that was stored under the seat, and began to tie a slip-noos- I suppose we The girl now spoke. But 1 shall have to do it," she said. wish there were a leBS dangerous, a less tragic way." Hardly knowing what he did, Orme laid his hand gently on her shoulder. It will be ail right, dear, he whispered. If the word embarrassed her, the darkness covered her confusion. Porter had started the motor, setting it at a low speed, and now he was steering the boat in a circle to gain distance for the charge. Ive lost the other boat, exclaimed Orme, peering Into the darkness. Shes ofT there, said Porter. "You cant see her, but I know the direction. He swung the launch around and headed straight through the night. Orme cautioned Hold on tight, the girl, and coiling his lasso, ,he went to the how. The launch moved steadily forward. Orme, straining his eyes in the endeavor to distinguish the other boat, saw it at last. It' lay a few points to starboard, and Porter altered the course of the launch accordingly. Make for the stern," called Orme, and cripple her propeller, if you can. Another slight change in the course showfd that porter understood As the lessening of the riistanee between the two boats made it possible to distinguish the disabled speeder more clearly, Orme saw that the Japanese was still tinkering with the moHe was busying himself as tor. though he realized that he had no hope of escape unless lie could start his beat. Narrower, narrower, grew the interOrme vening gap of dark water braced himself for the shock. In hi3 left hand was the coiled painter; in iiis right, the end of the ready noose, which trailed behind him on the decking. it was long since he hau thrown a lariat. In a vivid gleam of memory he saw at that moment the hot, dusty New Mexico corral, the low adobe builJ'ngs, the lumbering cattie ar.d th galloping horses of the ranch. DODO.MBN.D There he had spent one summer vacation of his college life. It was ten years past, but this pose, the rope in his hand, flashed it aack to him. Now they were almost on the Japanese. For the moment he seemed to waver. He glanced at the approaching launch, and reached uncertainly for the boat hook. Yet it did not Oj her and speaking in a low voice, try to forget it Tomorrow I am going after the papers. 1 will get them. She looked up at him. Her eyes were softly confident I believe you. she whispered. "You never give up, do you? No, he said, "I never give up when I am striving for something seem to occur t him to yield. which 1 greatly want. There was And then, as for the hundredth time meaning in his voice, though he had he laid his hands on the motor, he struggled to conceal it. She lowered uttered a cry. It was plain to Orme her eyes, and said no more. that the cause of the supposed breakSlowly the lights of shore grew down had been discovered. Hut was brighter. After a time Orme could there time for the Japanese to get distinguish the masses of trees and away? It was doubtful. He opened buildings, grayly illuminated by the the feed pipe and let the gasoline arc lamps of the streets. He spoke again flow in. The launch was now to Porter in an undertone. so near that Orme could almost have Can you land us some distance leaped the gap, but the Japanese bent south of the station? he his energy to the heavy fly wheel, tug- asked. ging at it hurriedly. "Sure. Ill run In by the The motor started. The boat began street pier. to move. Ill be obliged to you, I made a bad mess Even now it looked as though the sighed. collision could not be prevented, but didnt I? Oh, I dont know, replied the life the Japanese, seizing the steering We got the lady." wheel, turned the boat so quickly to saver. Orme started. "Yes," he said, we starboard that the stern fell away from the bow of the approaching got the lady and thats more imlaunch. There was no crash, no hard portant than all the rest of it Porter grinned a noncommittal grin bump; merely a glancing blow so slight that in that calm water it and devoted himself to the wheel. scarcely made the boats careen. They had saved the girl! In hia Then Orme threw his noose. The disappointment over the escape of the distance was less than ten feet, and Japanese Orme had forgotten, but the loop spread, quick and true, over now he silently thanked God that Porthe head of the Japanese. But, swift ter and he had come out on the water. though the action was, the Japanese The girl had not yet explained her had an instant to prepare himself. presence in the boat. In her own I lis right arm shot up. As Orme, jerk- good time she would tell him. But ing at the rope, tried to tighten the she had been there under compulsion; noose, the hand of the Japanese push- and Orme shuddered to think what ed it over his head and it slid over might have happened. the side Into the water. In a few He stole a glance at her. She was seconds the swift boat had disap- leaning back on the seat. Her eyes were closed and her pose indicated peared in the night. Tightening his lips grimly, Orme complete relaxation, though It was drew the wet rope in and mechanical evident from her breathing that she Orme marveled at ly coiled it. There was nothing to was not asleep. say. He had failed. So good an op- her ability to push the nervous exportunity to recover the papers would citement of the evening away and snatch the brief chance of rest. hardly return. When at last the launch ran up Silently he turned back to the others. Porter had swung the launch under the end of a little breakwater around and was heading toward the near the Davis street pier, she arose distant lights of Evanston. The girl quickly and sprang out of the boat was peering in the direction whence without help. Then she turned, as came the sound of the receding boat. Orme stepped up beside her, and If you and Mr. Thus, for sofne time they remained spoke to Porter. Orme had not come after me she silent there's no telling whether I At last the girl broke Into a laugh. said, It was a rippling, silvery laugh, ex- should ever have got hack. I should pressing an infectious appreciation of like to shake hands with you, she Orme added; and bending down, she held the humor of their situation. chuckled in spite of himself. If she out her firm white hand. could laugh like that, he need not stay Then Orme laid his hand on the in the dumps. And yet in his mind life saver's shoulder. You've done rankled the sense of failure. He had a piece of good work tonight, he made a poor showing before her and said. she was laughing. Again the corners I Porter laughed embarrassed!. of his mouth drew down. only tan the boat for you, he began. 1 suppose the notion is amusing, "You took me at my word," said a cowboy at sea. he said Orme, and that's a good deal in such Oh, I was not laughing at you. a case. Goodby. I will look you up She had sobered quickly at his words. before I go back east. I shouldnt blame you, if you did. (TO BE CONTINUED.) "It Is the whole situation, she went if on. And it wouldn't be so funny, A Canarys Ears. it werent so serious. A canarys ears are back of and 1 appreciate it, he said. little below its eyes. They are not "And you know how serious it is, hard to find when one has learned But truly, Mr. Orme, where to look. There is no outer ear, she went on. I am glad that we did not damage such as animals have, but simply a that boat. It might have been ter- small opening which Is covered by her feathers, it is quite surprising that rible. If he had been drowned voice trailed ofT in a faint shudder, birds possess the very acute heap and Orme remembered how tired she ing which they do, while lacking th must be, and how deeply disappointed. fleshy flap which enables the animals Now, Girl, he said, bending over to catch sounds. St. Nicholas. life-savin- g m It Looked as Though the Collision Could Not Sa Prvontca. |