EIGHT PAGE? DAILY EAST OHEGONIAN, PENDLETON, OREGON, WEDNESDAY. MAY 5. 191i PAGE SEVEN (a jr.'?-. 0ilU, MSI, b; (trial publlnUoa OorponUoa, TENTH EPISODE. A Prisoner on the Yacht CHAPTER I. NED WARNER, tn front of the biasing win dow! of tbe New Tork cafe, ttood one In date, deaf to ell the worda of Bobble end Irtt Bletherlnf, who feared, from tbe ubea pallor of bit face, that bit murderous frenzy might react upon blmielf. lie aaw again bla lovely runaway bride being forced out of tbe cafe igalnst her will by tbe man wltb tbe white mustache and that Infernal scoundrel wltb tbe black Vandyke, Gilbert Blyel He saw bimflelf prevented by tbe frightened Bobble and Iris and the solicitous wait era from dashing among tbe glittering tables and grappling Blye by tbe throat and strangling him to death. Be saw himself rushing to the ornate en trance through which they bad taken his beautiful June and arriving tn time only to see ber whirl sway tote the night la Blye's Injurious limousine. I V v;.r the heavy man with the thick eyelids up In front with the driver, the middle aged woman and the vlvtdoua brunette with concern and fright on their pill facet at the dome light of the car tbona down upon them, and on the rear teat with June tbe two men who bed carried ber awty by violence, tha white mustached man laughing, and the dark, band tome face of Gilbert Blye bending over June with that tuave smile on bis lips. Too Intel Too late for anything but his ttupor. Tbe limousine had turned the corner. On that side Of the csfe there was nut a taxi to be seen. Bob ble's car stood In front, on tbe other street While Iris endeavored to arouse the stupefied Ned, Bobble ran around and brought his roadster. They drove np to the corner and turned down the street through which the limousine bad disappeared, but where In til that wilderness of moving vehicles could the track of June be found? Nowhere! It was as If the earth bad opeucd and swallowed her up. It might at well, for June, In a swift motorboat wltb the gay party which bad kidnaped her from tbe cafe, waa then swiftly approaching a long, low yacht which loomed gracefully above them In the misty river. June's struggles were useless In that heaving water and her cries of protest were unbenrd In that lonely waste. Strong arms lifted her to her feet; a strong hand from above grasped hers, and she was pulled up to tbe deck. Below her she henrd the laughter of the three men who bad abducted her, and wltb their laughter blended the shrill, high voice of that vivacious brunette, Tommy Thomas. June's ben it sent out a wild call to Ned. This hud been the first time she had eccn his face since tbe day of their wedding. At the door of the sumptuously fitted crimson and gold salon on the yacht the tottering June was con fronted by a stolid steward with gray mutton chop whiskers and a puckered looking stewardess, who wore, as If habitually, a half whimper. "The dearie looks faint," said the stewardess. "Well, bring the young lady a glass of wine, you," gruffly ordered the steward. , Mrs. Vlllard came In and dropped In a chair, while tbe vivacious Tommy danced over to the gold lacquered plnno, Its beautiful murine view painted by the famoua Velas. Illye and the white mustached Cunningham and the heavy Edwards followed, laughing, as Wllklns wheeled In from the pnntry a portable buffet. Its frosty topped bottles packed In glistening Ice. "Have a toste of this, dearie. It will soothe your nerves." Tho whining stewardess held to June's Hps a glass of sherry, but June drew a way from it with repugnance, and, rising, hurried away from the sumptuously fitted anion. She did not know where that passageway led, except that It led away from that hateful company. The stewardess followed her, the glass of sherry still In her hand. Right In here, dearie," and she opened the door of a magnificent stntcroom. Its mahogany walls paneled with Ivory tinted tapestry, its brass bed hung with rich lace. lune hesitated, but down the passageway came Hrln Cunningham, his eyes twinkling and the laugh ter of wine upon his lips. June darted Into the mag nificent atateroom, hastily shut tho door and lock ed It In tha crimson and gold salon were the popping of corks, gay laughter, In which even Mrs. Vlllard Joined, and then the loud strains of swift dance music, pounded out by tbe nimble fingers of Tommy Thomaa. Blya tat quietly, with that tuave smile upon his lips tod ttroklng his black Vandyke with his long, icin white fingers, upon one of which sparkled a ' nond. Ha rose presently, and, tiptoeing down gangway, ttopped at June's door and listened, "e could hesr an occasional stifled sob as June sat , eld the toft cushions of the couch. Before her, ihiough a half open door, could be seen a glimpse of a inewy white bathroom, and la the sdjolnlng little pale bine boudoir stood Jane's own luggage! Ned I That brief eight of him had filled Jane's whole soul with longing. Poor little runaway bridal There wrre tb rttUe of a dvnte) engine at I tie acraplng si cbalcs on tbe ish Kiarity. Vx anchor coming np, and inave was an inatan change In (ha easy rocking ! tbe craft, febe ih4 dered, and then there was the sound of seething water as tbe Hilarity gathered headway. June was on ber feet In an Instant She ran to tbe porthole and gased out at tbe barely moving lights along ahore. Tbe portholes were too small to let ber aboulden through. Bhe ran to tbe door and opened It stealthily, then closed it and held the knob as Tommy Thomas and Orin Cunulagbam danced past In tbe salon. June sat on the conch In her stateroom, with her bands locked upon ber knees, staring Into the white slice of brightness formed by the tiling of tbe bath room, and while she pondered on what she should do Marie aud Henri reached tbe city and atopped at a telegraph office. When they came out of that place a short, wide, thick man who bad been wad dling down the street, with a blunt stub of a cigar In one corner of his mouth and a look of habitual furtlveness In his little eyes, started abruptly at sight of Marie, aud when tbe touring car started tbe short, wide man bung on behind, his cigar stub firmly clamped between bis teeth. Tbe doorbell rang at tbe Moore home tn Bryn port Stern John Moore, reading bla paper beneath the portrait of June, looked up quickly, and there waa a slight tremor at tbe corner of bis paper. Auut Debtor's voice was beard. "Why, It's Mr. Ned and Miss Iris. Why, good venln'. The folks is to home." Stern John Moore listened with silent attention While Mrs. Moore, her hand upon her breast, stifled tbe emotions to which Iris Blethering gave full play at the "kidnaping" was described. There was but one conclusion among the men. and Ned, composing bla voice as be psBed from the mention of Blya, suited that conclusion. di m'Cr, .v.. !.-.v -r-A It It a matter for tha police,'' ha declared and picked up tbe telephone. "Our daughter It in danger," said tha grava rote of John Moore. CHAPTER II. IN the dock adjacent to the one from which tha Hllarity'i motor tender bad departed there paced, almost perceptibly, a night watch man, who consisted of an overcoat, a cap and two glints of eye. To him there came, as tha docks Intensified their loneliness, a brisk little chauffeur wltb a thin mustache and a woman wltb hUjb check bones. "The Hilarity I" stated the little chauffeur, with an accusing tone, and with a sweeping gesture ha pointed to that adjacent dock where stood a big hamper with the word "Hilarity" glaring white on Its side. "She Is goner Then Henri stepped back. "Yep," rumbled a frosty voice. "But her tender," objected Henri, "also is gone. Listen, my friend," Insisted Henri, stopping in front of the overcoat and cap, but moving aside as It came Irresistibly on. "Tbe facts are like these. Mademoiselle has gone on board the Hilarity. Be hold, here is the maid of the charming made moiselle. She .was also to have gone on board tbe Hilarity. How," then, shall she go?" "Dunuo." Tbe maid of the charming mademoiselle now stepped forward. "Can you drive a motorboat?" she asked. "Voila!" And Henri snapped the fingers of both hands, snapped them three times. "Voila, made moiselle, Marlel If It goes I can drive it." "Can't we hire this boat?" and tbe resourceful Marie pointed to a trim little craft The overcoat and cap wheeled slowly In Marie's direction aud shot forward a frosty breath. "Nope." "Hut, comrade." And Henri Jerked his cap on the buck of his bead as he w heeled nt right angles. "It Is liiiMrtant. Ixiok. Here Is money. I take the swift little bout I swish out of thc'slip. I swish down the river. I swish across the bay. Mke light ning I swish, end I overtake the yacht Hilarity. I deliver the charming maid" a little bow here "and a kiss from the linger tips to t tic charming made moiselle, and Immediately I swish back. Nothing Is lost! All Is safe!" "Get off the dock," came the answer. "But, monsieur.'' "Hike." "I, Henri, detest you," was the angry response. And he followed Marie off the dock. I'p on the street stood t lie Vlllard touring car, and as Marie and Henri climbed In it a fat figure slunk out of the shndows and hung, on behind, grip ping a thick cigar butt between Its teeth. Cp and down the docks ranged Henri and Mniie, but not one motorboat could they find. Wherever they stopped the thick, fat figure dropped off the car and slunk Into the shadows. Henri hnd another Idea. He drove to a nenrby saloon and procured a bottle of whisky, which he offered to the man on the dock. "Thanks." The voice was cue degree less frosty. Tba aeci at tha bottle disappeared into tha tilt of the overcoat collar, and the glsaulag bottle turned b eaves ward, "Voila." Heart hlvseif took a rip ind stuffed the bottle In bfe krt "I shall go away, my friend, but I shall return." H hurried back to tbe touring car op on tba ttrswt and drove twty, and tbe thick figure slinking nut of tha sLadowi bopped on behind. In tba Ivory tapestried stateroom, at the Hilarity ateamed tlowly across tbe bay, June Warner sud denly rose and rang for tbe stewardess. That puck ered person came wltb alacrity, but before she went to June she stopped In tba door of the crimson and gold salon and, catching tbe eye of Orin Cunning ham, bobbed her bead and smiled ber ingratiating smile and Jerked her thumb over her shoulder to ward June's room; then she turned ber pallid eyes toward Gilbert Blye for a fleeting moment aud hurried away. "Did you ring, dearie?" she whined as June opened the door. "Yes." June studied the woman a moment specu Istively. She could not confide In this creature. "You may bring me some water, please." "Yes, dearie." The stewardess whirled and hur ried to the door of the crimson and gold salon, where Tommy Thomas sat between Cunningham aud Edwards, with a hand on a shoulder of each. The stewardess, with a sidelong glance at the quiet Blye In tbe corner, hurried over to tbe group on the bench. "She wants some wster," she whispered, bending over aud grinning her. ugly grin. "Oh, yes." Again the grin. "Young ladles always trust me. Pay, 1 think she wants to escape." Blye, wltb a frown on his dark, bandiome face, walked across and spoke to Cunningham. Orin nodded and, his eyes twinkling, went to the por table buffet where ha selected a long stemmed, gracefully shaped, gold Incrusted goblet of Venetian glass. He filled It with Ice and set It to one side. Then, while the others watched him. Tommy Thomas wltb a half sneer and Mrs. Vlllard with shocked concern, he took from a locked cnfie a tiny etone bottle. Now he emptied the Ice from the beau tiful goblet and poured Into It a few blood red drops. Mrs. Vlllard half rose and looked toward Gilbert Blye; then, with a catch In her breath, she tat down and was silent Blye went to tbe door as tbe stewardess came np the gangway and called her In with a jerk of bis head. On the lips of Edwards there bad come a firm set, and bis heavy lidded eyes had narrowed. Without a word Cunningham handed the glass to TTTT 1 I -v" ' C i-T!t1 l . - 1 i "'srt: June "Rushed Forward the stewardess, but between the two there pissed a look which waa full of meaning. Blya, with bla glowing eyes on the glass, smiled suavely. "I brought you the water, dearie," said tha stew ardess, entering June's stateroom. "Oh!" An exclamation of delight from June is her eyes widened with the beauty of tbe delicate Venetian goblet "That's something else I made for you in the pantry, dearie," explained the stewardess, In ber coaxing wblne, ind bobbed her neck. "It't t fine stimulant and soothing to tbe nerves." June took tbe fragile glass In her hand. Its sheer beauty had won ber. She inhaled daintily. The fragrance was most appealing. Bhe looked at It agnjn and smiled. She did feel faint and weak. She lifted the glass to her Hps, and the tip of ber tongue caught the delicious flavor. Suddenly, as she tilled the glass to drink, she caught the pallid eyes of the stewardess fixed eagerly upon her. The woman's month was half open, aud she was breathing hard. With a flash of Intuition June Jerked her lips from the gluts and threw It crashing and splintering, Into the fireplace. "Why, dearie," exclaimed the stewardess, and In great agitation she pushed a button at the side of the mantel. June's eyelashes lowered for an Instant and her Hps set: then quietly she went Into the little blue boudoir and sat thoughtfully upon the daintily up holstered settee. The steward came pompously In. "Well, you've done It again, yon," he growled si he surveyed the splintered fragments of the delicate Venetian glass. "No, Percy," whined the woman and glared to ward the boudoir door with her pallid eyes. She jerked ber thumb In that direction, end then she winked. "That's you," snarled Wllklns. "You always say It's a guest." "How much?" whispered the woman In a sibilant hiss, w hich carried as It was Intended to do. "Them glasses Is $12 apiece, and It'll be taken from your wages. That conies out of my pocket!" June bit her Hps. Twelve dollars 1 It was a lot of monev to a girl who hitd found dollars coming slow ly ii : 1 Independence hard to win, but she picked up n a HUH I lf( f ' her port. After all, tba bad no proof that tba woman meant anything but kindliness. "la tola breakage charged against your asked June. "Why, yet, dearie," A sniffle want with tha whine. "How much will It cost you?" "Twelve dollars!" 8nlffle, "But It's all a part of our Job, so never mlud, dearie." "I do not wish you to lose tba money," and quite thoughtfully June counted $12 from ber alender store. She added another for the customary Up and gave one to tbe man, and tbey thanked ber most obsequiously. As June returned to tbe boudoir fhelr suppressed voices broke out again. "No," protested the woman In that wblning hist; "that's my money tbe dollar't mine, anyhow." "Nothing yours except what I give you," stated Tercy Wllklns gruffly. "That's the law, and you know It Clean up that mess, you," and he left the room. The womsn's whining mumble could be heard all the while she was cleaning up the fireplace. She was gone when June returned to the stateroom, but on the floor near the door was a yellow leather bound blank book, its side worn like glsss from the constant friction of a pocket June picked It up and opened It wltb Idle curiosity. On the first Inside page, at the top. was the big scrawled word "From." At the top of the opposite page was tbe word "To." The first item on the "From" page was dated four years back. "From Sallie Fish, we lding portion 2.0CO pound." Beneath this was the Item "Savings, Tercy Wllklns 102 pounds." On the opposite pnge the first entry waas "Hooking to the States, "Tercy and Sally Wllklns, 22 pounds. " After that the entries were all in dollars. On the "From" side they "vers chiefly the waees of Percy Wllklns aud Sally Fish Wllklns, for they had ap parently gone Into private service Immediately. On the "To" side, which represented the eilendltures, there were very few entries, but they were Interest ing. In the four years the woman had had four cheap dresses besides her uniforms and very scant accessories. The last entry among the receipts was June's $14 under the head of "Tips." On that page the boojj showed an Item, "Banked to the credit of P. Wllklns, $12,000." And It all belonged to the man, every penny. If the woman had. anything Jt was a gift . A startling thought came to June. Suppose she achieved her independence, suppose she earned her own money, so that she could go to Ned, asking from bim nothing but lore In return for ber love, would he own what she had earned? If so. "what would become of tbe principle for which she had run away? She paled at that thought, and then she laughed. She did not know the law In this matter, but she knew Ned. Dear Ned! She hunted her handkerchief in a hurry. CHAPTER III. THE arrival of an envelope by messenger ren dered unnecessary the Immediate need of police aid for the Moore family. With fingers which trembled tn spite of hit habitual control, the sVther of June opened tbe telegram and read this itrange message: . " " " wr 1 ' 2 ill! , iT r rift I 1 i 9 " ? I 5 a, , June ancf the I sm sorry I hd a certain party tltd snd lost tn Hunt r's woods. Pleas find him snd tell him I am sorry. I sm loins to Join our darling. I will protect her until w matt again, when all will be happy. Tour faithful MARIE. New plans were made accordingly. On the dock against which rocked and grated tha iwlft little motorboat Flash the lonely overcoat and cap pursued their almost Imperceptible way. A touring car stopped on the street up the bllL "It Is cold, my friend, Is It notr called Henri at he rushed forward, bottle In hand. "Shall we warm ourselves yes?" "Yep," rolled up the somber voice, with frosty cordiality, and the neck of the bottle disappeared la the slit of the overcoat collar. "Tho motor tender from the Hilarity It Is not yet returned, eh?" "Nope." "Voila!" Henri Is even cheerful as he races back up the dock. "I shall return, my friend Monsieur Frappe." As Henri Jumps Into his car a dim, fat figure slinks out of the shadows snd hops on behind. Left alone momentarily, June threw open the door which she had Just locked and dashed back along the gangway toward the pautry. At the cud of the passage she found a compiinionway which led ber up to the deck. She rushed forward to the prow, taking In at a glance that they were far from shore end-In the open water. The distant lights glowed dully through the mist, but Just ahead of her, ou tho port side, bore down the red and greeu lights of a tug. "Ahoy!" she cried, lifting her hands to her mouth Uke a megaphone. "Ahoy!" she screamed. Strong arms seized her the heavy Jawed officer she had seen as she had come on board. Two other came running up. Kdwards and Cunningham. Close liohlnd were Tommy Thomas and Mrs. Vlllard. the former Inughlng. the hitter panic stricken A h trol- JMlW: . I kerchief wit pressed against her tBOfltH, and t& tug flashed by. It was Edwards and Cunningham who dragged June down Into the crimson and gold talon, sod at June wtt Jostled In tbe first thing tba ttw wit tbe dark, handsome face of Gilbert Blyel lit wit standing at tha portable buffet, quietly drinking a glass of winel P. Wllklns and wtfe came running in, and Ed wards, panting, hit heavy Dpi parted In a half marl and half grin, released bla hold on June. "Lock her up," he ordered and Joined Blye at tba buffet Blye lifted bis glsss, suavely milling, it June, now unresisting, wss led twsy. Inside her stateroom June locked her door tod at the tame time heard It bolted from tba outside. On tbe dock tbe overcoat and cap witched tha figure of Henri with drowsy interest also a short, thick figure. "Say, what do tbey want?" tbe abort thick figure asked, with stiff lips. , "Dldn t I tell you before to hike?" husked tba warm steam of breath. "Get off the dock." "The beautiful little motorboatr Interrupted Henri, with Ingratiating enthusiasm. "My friend Monsieur Flambeau, would it not be possible' "Nope." "Voila." Henri was quite cheerful. "I shall return ' again, my friend Frappe." Henri was Just starting bis car ind the short, thick figure bud just slunk out of tbe shadows to bop on behind when tbe overcoat and cap sat On tbe eilge of the dock, wltb their feet dangling to ward the water. "Ah!" breathed Henri to the stiff figure beside him "At last It arrives! We shall wait!" "Is there any left?" busked a voice. "Pardon." abjectly apologized Henri "a thousand panlons. Mile Marie." And he produced a fresh bottle. The thick, short figure slinking back Into tbt shadows wiped Its tips wltb Its tongue and shivered. Dawn slowly tbe chill, gray mist which lay upon the river began to clear. "Voila," cracked the voice of Henri, but tbe tone was cheerful still. "He sleeps"' It was true. Tbe overcoat and cap, after bobbing and swaying dangerously over the water's edge for hour after bour, bad at last' stretched out on tba dock for the slumber due to a nlgbt watchman who was thoroughly at ease snd thoroughly warm. Henri and Marie, with all tbe mental effect of stealtblness, sprang into tbe swift looking little motorboat A short thick figure came painfully waddling out on the dock and shook tbe overcoat The cap wabbled. "Hey!" This was from the short, thick fijruie, Dai tbe aperture through which tbe sound came waa w stiff that tbe result was only a wheeze. A snore came from the overcoat "Hey!" A punch, a kick, but a stiff kick wnlcb had no force. "Ugh!" The grunt was from tha night watch man. "Well, yon with the distillery breath I tried to teli you all nlgbt, didn't I? Oh, get alive! This la BUI Wolf, tbe private detective, talking to you." At- 1 i 4 i - i IS x Conspirator' Tghl" The cap moved, but tba overcoat wis ttlll asleep. "They stole tbe Flash. I say, they"- The Flashr The overcoat straightened. It rose. The cap stiffened Us angle. Tbe combination scram bled to Its feet "They stole the Flash." "Stole It! Whor "Oh, who?" The tone was one of Infinite con tempt "Why, the little pink whiskered guy and the bony dame! Stole it! And now where did they go?" "The yacht what's ber name?" The overcoat and rap were still hasy. Tbe cap turned gropingly to ward the hamper, on the adjoining dock, where tbe name stood out tn blunt wbltt letters, "Hllarltyr Tbe"- "The nilarlty!" B1U Wolf stooped with his hands on his knees to stare at that Information which bad been In plain sight all tight Me for a telephone. Gee, look at that boat go!" Vpou the swelling waves rode the nilarlty, and all on board of her, save the officers of the nlgbt and one other, were sound asleep. That one was June Warner. She had noiselessly dressed herself In a yachting costume, and now she slowly removed a bar which held the sliding of a secret panel she bad discovered In tba wail of ber cabin. Swiftly, silently, June gained the deck. Creeling close to tbe cabins, she rounded the stern. The Hilarity had dropped anchor, and the landing stairs with their silken hsnd rail had been let down. At the platform boblied the motor tender. Swiftly, silently, the runaway bride crept cut ind down the side of tbe yacht and dropped st noise lessly is a cat into the motorboat while tbt long pink fingers of tbe dawn swept athwart tbe ysllow tit iz sky. With a thumping heart June started the motor, and at the sound Cllliert Hlye's dark, handsomt face appeared above the rail. ro air cox-riirtn )