EIGHT PAGE?
DAILY EAST OHEGONIAN, PENDLETON, OREGON, WEDNESDAY. MAY 5. 191i
PAGE SEVEN
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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.
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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
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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."
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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 )