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Show Iineuist: una ineuirl 5y Randall Parrishf Jifeht 1922 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. "r.!!!.?'"h ,ho VCMe'- While nn I cHAPTBfl XII Continued. I -12- jicAilnms, unable to remnln qnlc ,cparted to RC lil P'1le wrch star j In an attempt to discover Hohm Ma his neW h,'""S' P1"03, Tl,e f-'"0 could not lie on the yurlit. ns that lin i Kniifd from Jackson park nt fnr tn early un l,our or ,,,m to llnve P0""'"' vUipjmlc one of the party. He would ml jmmhf In the city then, securely concoule MMM nmne dive of Hie underworld, pei flrtlng his plans, whatever tlx-Kilght tlx-Kilght he, md, perhaps, arranging t Koln tho?o on the boat Inter. The d tcctlve even thought This unlikely, hi theory being that llohart merely d tired to get the girl safely out of th wny for a length of tliuo Rulllclent t enable hi m to complete Ids nefnrlnu ichemc. He argued thut Nntnlle wn la no real danger; she would he belt ao doubt, kept out of sight tin Inn m was necessary, but otherwise let uninjured. This was no strong-tin crlme, bnt a high-class confldene gnnie, and the Important thing was t Hj quickly lay hnnds ot Holmrt. Wit blm once In the tolls, the whole con Bsptrocy would Instantly collapse. Wit thk end In vlcu'.'McAdnms took tvp th mnn's trail, leaving West to stnm gunrd over the telephone. Tlic Intter called up Sexton, um 'hurried him out to Fnlrlnwn, with Ir ftnictloii.i to find nut nil he could froti Htlic scrvnnts there relative to nny Infi developments. This accomplished untiring remnlned for West to do bu Bhlt down and milt for something els jBto happen. H The delay was shorter than ho nn Btlrlated. Thero wns n sharp rlngln; Mm! the bell, the police operator respond lng ipilrkly. H "Police headquarters. Whnfs want Bi-dt McAdnms; no he Is not In Ju (Rinw, Who Is calling hltn? llurbo master's otllce; nil right; hold tin Hklie a minute." H He turned his head nrotind. "Must bo your rose, Captain; bcttci near what they lmve to say." n nesi Kmspeu tne receiver eagerly. "Ik this tho Seminole matter?" h gMsK-cd swiftly. "Certnlnly, I undei tnr.d nhout It What's that. 01 iVlji bell told you to coll up If yoi iaWwued anything. Of course; what I 1 near; Just fonn(1 licr ,lc' &Bl t north side of Municipal pint -'hat's the trouble? Engine worklni ttBrt, and hnd to come In, hey? Al onBiglit thanks; I'll go straight over nm r them," iuB This wns great luck, yet there wn: obScry little bo could hope to nccotnpllsl I'oMone, without the help und nuthnrltj mt McAdnms. Even If the vessel tun Bi'en stolen which wns probably no: Bue ho possessed no power of nr 3JBI(' A" ,in 00111,1 lu'I,c 10 (' wouh li keep tho fellows In sight unit TTTJIc showed up, nod. If posslhle, pre locMtt them from putting nut Into tin t nte again. Even In that tic need1 kjBust be cautious not to be seen bj 'vesH1 ot tnu Kn"8 who might recognlzi Jla. An nlnnn, proving they were he mm followed, would doubtless scut DijBtm scattering Instantly. HWost thought of nil these things w iliMltaxI bore lilm ncroxs the city to tlx iooBW, and acted accordingly. The opei crtlHl restaurant nccordvd liini ever: itttH 'oiiablo opportunity for conceal tttbfl it, while affording nraplo view u Wi Wm a vvoman on Joar'd. Then 1 t7L7 EOlns nn' A p,p'"- ISitVry,wos c,or i,--'"11 k. I'U,,!"0 nml 'e ce"'en Ivwehn?s ? mwh t-Ci''l'clngth ' in&'l. even the wit , I"M72nrt,u,,y,workln';l,e"'w ; vt. r. Tmn U,an,B, nm I'tn J". W'ng. No on I f n yncht un MU" ft "le ,,ccl- or clos immM f w- DPurcnily cot "'"-""8iiesa was assumed by i 2,T!;yfl1WM,'w"Wni:l1.nclori , SLi !ey ?'ere verjr " t, Miard. unxlnusly waiting nn opportu. t- ty to depart, lie left tho tnhle. at rt Mmllctl out on to the pmmer.n.lo. s w far us he could observe, this mov d ment sltract.il no nttentlon. nlthnu; to n moment later bis eyes plnlnlr caugl ly n bit of driiery drawn sllghtlv ash II at one of the cabin windows 'of tl cl Seminole, and. he felt cnnvincril tl r. quick gesture of n woman's haml! y There was n woman on hoard, thei ii This certainty of knowleilye by i f ilence of his own eyes, set l,)s lilo, Is leaping. Whatever the purposes , e- tbehc people he was again upon tl ie right trull. A little later one of tl o fellows loafing on the pier, a rutin is heavily built man, with closelv cllpp im red mustache, and a scar over ni il. eye, slowly crossed the deck, and c g tered the cabin. Me came forth ngal rt a moment later, asked some questlr n of the workmen below and then clat e beied hack carelesslj over the ml it Joining his companion on the pier. b "A half hour yet; It was quite a Jr . the boys had. but they are mnkli h time. Conn, over here n minute." e They walked forward, nut of en d shot from where West sat on n hem In the sun. lie watched the fellov ,1 closely, yet without neglecting the boa . but they neither glanced townrd till ii or seemed aware of his exigence. II o whole thought centered on the earl 1. arrival of McAdnms. Until the dete it tlve came, thero was nothing he coul e do hut sit there quietly and wait. Ill what If the necessary repairs wei (. completed, and tho Seminole sailed b s fore Mac got there? Wns there an I. means In his power by which this coul be prevented? Tho only suggest I. which came to him wns the plcldr , of u quarrel In some way, with the t r men ashore. The boat would nev depart unless they were aboard, t they were evidently the lenders of tl ping, yet this would he n most despe r ate expedient, to bo resorted to onl when all other effort had failed. 0 sines it would put them on tin e guard, and possibly avail nothing. W r. not sjienk to the fellows pleasant , and naturally? They hnd no reason " be suspicious of him ; he wns but o M of many others lounging Idly about t j pier. Ills curiosity would seem rei . oiinhle cnnu;h, nnd he might thus gi p some clue as to their destination. Thi I even If they did soil before Mac i j pcared, they could be safely Interce ed In time for n rescue. Circumstances seemed to work ( this end, the two men strolling cn le.sly hack townrd where tic sat, pni I Ing within u few feet of him. nil tin nttentlon apparently rtvetod upon t 1 yacht. J "Had some bnrd InckT be vf tured. "Engine glvo out?" The red-mustnebed one glnnc nhout. his eyes surveying the tpeafc Indifferently. ' "Hroke n plstpn. and hnd t be tow In," he replied carelessly. 'Well 1e i ' ngnln presently." The very Indirfercnce of the fellc led West to take a chance. "Some nice boat you've, got thei The Coolldge yacht, Inn't It? Ilnvei f seen It out Intely." ' "Ave you a yachtsman?" ? "A bit of nn nmntetir. yes; hare cntdioat I plav with oome. Hchmg f the Columbia club." "Off CSrnrit park; ttilt. boat quarte In the Jncksoii IngooiL We left the last night. ton know Ooolldge?" "No, never met lilm; recognized t bont. though. Has It been sold?" "Not yet. It wasn't his, nnywn belonged to tho estate. Tm one of t trustees; tlmt's bow I've got tlt u of It see? Ever looked It over?" West shook bis head. "No. but I wouldn't mind; she's dnndy," "Sho sure Is; better Inside than c tn my notion. Come aboard ; we've ; time enough. Come along with i Mark; we'll take u look nt the cnl first, and then go forward." Tho three men stepped over tho l 1 roll, and moved aft ncross the deck, t lender talking fluently, and isilntl out vnrlous tilings of Interest. T other man never sioke, and West ga no thought to his presence. Ho hi been rarely fortunate so fnr. nnd w I looking for un opportunity to questli his guide on tho purpose of their vci uge. Tho man opened the cabin do and West stepped inside, the luterl darkened by drown curtains. Tl dusk wns confusing, nnd he stood st nrter the first step, hearing the Int. click behind him. A hand gripped bis shoulders j though In n vise, nnd swung hi iiroitnd; tho muzzle of nn nutnmui e confronted him. und behind It t r threatening eyes of his guide glar directly Into his own. I- "Not a move, you d d spy," a vol . said coldly. "Now, Murk, frisk t t cuss, nnd be lively nhout It. Hud gun, hey; I thought so, Olvo It lo n r Now get the curd over there and gl lilm u turn or two, A vory good ji . old boy; tho fellow Is safe euough V should sny." ii Ho turned his eyes nwny, senrchl n the robin, contldent that West w i sntllclently secured. "Come on out, Mnry." ho said slin : ly. "Who l this guy, nnyhow?" d A woman came forward through t shnilows. West had n glimpse of 1 e face, but the featured wero unfnmlli I- A wouinn of forty, perhaps, still tmctlve In nppcnmricc, with dark h e and bold black eyes that met Ids o-i- defiantly. So Uila was the woman I'isu ui un. iucre nnd neen a it take of some kind; but If so, why Ii these people given lilm this sort of - ceptlon aboard? These thoughts wi tr bis mind In a flash, as the worn () peered forwurd to see his fentu v more clearly. For n moment she si ,jr nothing, and the mun broke out I ,,. patiently. id ., "lft' n,e ,a,, "'n'1 W u9k "We nln,t Cn ud picked up I r- wrong Buy?" ,, "No; he's the bird, nil right. I n (lt er Ininped hltn but once before mysi , I beard his name then, but forgot )e He's her friend, there ain't no dot u, o' that. Joe, nnd It ain't likely h hanging around here Just for fun. Is . My Idea was It would be safer to tt lilm In." )(( "Sure; what's yer name, young 1 nf ,ou'r (9 Concenlment wns useless; they e )e dently hnd him correctly spotted; ' lie would do no booiI. (, "Matthew West." ,e "That's the name, Hogan," the n man exclaimed eagerly. "He Is a i !n dlcr a cuptnln. or iomctlilnff tl !y "He's the ad, Ain't Her me That. Jim told me about him; he's t :1" same fellow who was snooping abo a"- Mike's ntneo last night, before tin vulleil out;" en. "is that -so? How the h I did j iP- get out of there?" P- "We hod n little trouble." West mltted. "but they let me go." t "Yes, they did! I know better th rc- fbnt; Hohnrt don't' do business th IIH wuy. I reckon we've plnycd his gat lIr nil right taking you In. Well, y lle don't get out of here so easy, let t tell you. Hovv'd you coma to get on n-1 ? "Thnt's my business." p'l "Oh. Is It? Well, we'll make It o Pr' .from now on. There Is one thing pi ty sure you were here playing a I hand. So It don't niuko much dlfl 'ff etiee whnt yer Idea was. We'll ti the bird nlong with us, Mary; tl w he'll be out of temptntlou." The womnn uodiled. e-. "Jim will kno'v whnt to do w lt lilm," she snld. "All we got to do keep hltn safe." "I'll attend to Hint: come on, .Ma B let's 'throw the d n sneak Into tl tn left-hand stateroom. He'll stay tin all right. Aw, inks hold: don't rH nfrald of hurtlnit tho fellow." They roughed hlrn forward, t "West mnde no attempt to resist; I 1,6 'hnnds were bound, nnd he wns he less. The woman threw open Hie n T row door, and he was bundled unce l,e nionlously ncross the threshold, a thrown heavily to the floor. Ho stn gird partially upright, protest! against being left In that helpless dltlon, but the red-mustnehed n: only 'Inushed, shutting the door tig nt ly, and locking It. The single pr hole wns covered by heavy drupe Sl the stateroom In total darkness. ,n Wl could dlstlngulrh the movcmi of feet In 1he outer cubln. anil tli IW the closing of n door. Undotihtei ',H the two mn had gone on dm-k. Iv ,lJ Ing the womnn there filon. UN fi I,IS wero not tied nnd he co'ild s't up. r thouKb the hands were tUhtly Ikiii behind him. With eves nivustnuil l themselves to the gloom, be mld d m rem something of his Hiirrouudln v' He wns In the orllnnry stnteroom "" n small yacht, with barely space "r which to move about comfortably. T 10 bunks were nt one side, with a me 1,1 stand at tlulr foot for wnshlng pi poses. A nig covered the floor, t berth were made, nnd a stool, wrew i to the deck, occupied position Ji rn below the porthole. A few hooks wc In evidence on the opposite wall; I "' no gnnaents dangled from them to t I of previous occupancy. Indeed I place was scmpulmnly clean, co though unused for some time, lie West made his wny lo tho p u pushed nide the curtain with I ie. shoulders and h-ofced out. The Hint ve ntss of ihe owning made nny hope )h. esuipo In ihnt ay Impossible; i I could ho expert t nttrnct the att Hon of any ow nihore. t'onvlnced ng ids compleie b' lplessness, be sat do as on the sto1' t censbb-r the sltnntl He had e' n fool; there was rp- duilt us to tb.it: tie only thing n wns bow be uld lest retrieve I he folly. H i-.-id nrlkrd blindly Into ii iron siiKf-ci in noiHIi'ir. contl len ii". rcl.vlng i n bis o . sn nr'iess. biev' fll- biiii c',' i.u v 'i. No v he n i i ilr Mh u iy oi.i. I: ang" -d h'tn o - !r.e. bow eiidly it had been uv '' o cry out nn nlnrm only that tl "d cabin, und the threatening revo shoved against his cheek. He v 'P dered where McAdnms was; perl hunting him even then on the p -e and Sexton, what hnd he succeede dd discovering out nt Fal.lnwn? 1 Natalie Coolldge had returned hi no doubt. At least bo no Ion -er :d. lieveil she wan with thin yachting he ty evidently there wan hut cue woi on board. Yet. whether she v ,N tl f or not. It wns elenr enough fro.n v f be hnd beard that this sudden voj It. of th Seminole had some, direct Id nectlon with the mystery he was e's denvorlng to solve. Thnt wns whj II? had been decoyed nlMiard, nnd n ke prisoner to keep hltn silent; to him securely nut of the wny. Yet el- knowledge revealed nothing ns to v their renl purpose wns. V- What did they Intend doing with to now that he was In their hands? bad declared his fate would be with lloburt. Then It must bo o- they had n rendezvous arranged r l. where with that nrch-consplrntor. s kc hidden spot nlong the lake shore wl fliey were to meet shortly, nnd dl the spoils, or make further pinna, bart unquestionably wns the lende Ibe gang; but who was tho won She had evidently been In Mike's p the night before, nnd hnd a gllmps bis face. She must lmve left that putty In the nutoniohlle, yet surely wns not the one who dropped thnt note begging Uio pi to search this vessel. What then had become of tho otl If she was being held prisoner, It not nt all probnblo she hud been somewhere nshore; apparently she reason to know where she wns b , taken to the Seminole; otherwise would never Itnvo written ns she She must have overheard their pi before she hastily scratched off note desperately; und yet thoso p might have been chnnged. Howe If so, why were these people no pllces of Hobnrt no doubt lleein a the yacht, seeking to conceal t Identity In nil effort to dlsupp What were they fleeing from? 1 were they so fenrful of discovery the police? What would cause thei kidnap him, merely n suspicion bo wns a friend o? Natalie Coolb The very act wr.s proof positive of desperation of their crime. It c be uccounted for on no other tin n0 West paced the nnrrow space, iU brain whirling, as lie attempted ve reason tho affair out, his own ?iclp ness becoming tnoro nnd more ar ou ent Whnt could he do? There but one answer absolutely nothln i(J he wns then altuntcd. He could wait for some movement on the of the others; his fate wns out ol t own bands; he hud been a fool, must pay the price. Tho cords a uu his wrists chafed nnd hurt with i movement. Tho mctnl wnsh-stnnd i t) lilm an Inspiration ; Its upper strip thin, nnd somewhat jagged along edge; possibly It might bo utilized aM sever the strands. It wns better try the experiment thnn remain t ; " helplessly hound. With hnnds 1 ; be could nt lenst defend himself. He made tho effort, doubtfully je(l first, but hope entile us the shiirp c began to tear nt the rope. It was si work, awkwnrd, requiring all Itn strength of his arms, yet ho felt b iH of progress, ne could feel the strni yield little by little, nnd redoubled r).t efforts. - At Inst, exercising nil laj muscle, the lnst frayed strand snnpi rt, His wrists were bleeding, nnd l,a bauds nnmh, but the severed cord on the floor and he agnln had the f ue of his nnns. The sudden freed brought new hope and courugo. Ip. listened t the door, testing Hie It i r. cautiously. There was no yielding, i for tlu moment no sound rcnclied I ,l from without. Tho womnu wns don JB. less there on gunrd, nnd any effort ns mlglit make to break down the it would only bring the whole gang uj inn lit in. Ununned, he could not hope (lt. light them nil. An he stood there, hi irt, tilting, unable to determine whnt to ryt tempt, ho became uniire of a thr blng under foot. Increasing In lnlensl ,nt West knew Instantly whnt It mean ,. Hiey were testing out the engine; 1)v all worked welt, the boat would c IV. off. He sprnng back to the port r staretl out, eagerly hoping that, ns II n,l swept nut Into the lake, be might f ng tome opportunity to communicate w H. some one on the pier. I'erhnpH by t .s time Mac would havo arrived, nnd of watching their departure, unable to In tervei.v, ns be hnd no warrant for tvn rost, or nny delltilte knowledge Hint I tnl yacht wns being used for a crlmli ir- purpose. He hnd not Jong to wi ho Hurrying steps echoed ulons the dec ed n volco shouted out some order, n it the end of a loosened ron? dropj .re splashing Into the water astern; i mt boat trembled to the pulsations of 1 el engine, nnd West realized thut It v he t llrst slowly, then more swiftly, si SM ping awny Into the broad wnter, still Blood there, gazing bacV nt lft fast receding pier; gradually beci 1,1,1 Ing blurred in the distance, hut ho ill. tessly. Ho knew now hu must fi , his fate nlnne. |