Image provided by: Tillamook County Library
About Tillamook headlight. (Tillamook, Or.) 1888-1934 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1914)
IPa-rt *3, at Gem. Tliea/tre But now. though Le w. » all uncon- I But Coon, disarmed, his case was "Good Lord!” Barcus exclaimed, an scious cf tie fact, he went no more pening ho had gene or-r the stern CHAPTER XVIII, and hud involuntarily disarmed him desperate—and there were two al Alan gently lowered the inert body o! alone. ready safe upon tho dock and others self as well. the girl to the sands. "And to thiuk Ilia eliad 'w in tho moonlight kept Stranded. madly scrambling up to reinforce The other two ni- n m.nie ,i sad busi I didn't undei-btand t he was so nearly him company upon the sands; and r. Thomaa Barcus picked himself them. ness of aitcini tin,, to ourpoaor Mr, ell in — chaffing her like that! I'd lik • above, ou the cd; o of the bluffs, an- from tho bottom of the lifeboat, Wildly ho cast about for some sub- ether ilni.,ow moved on parallel Barcus. In lc.-s li. -n a minute they stitute weapon, le leaped toward a re he had lie«n violently precipi- to kick mynelf!” were both ovi ri- ‘Don't be impatient.” Alan advised course and at a pace .sedulously pat d by tho impact of grounding, "And just for this,' AI..n said before Lmall pyramid of little but heavy k< ;s. k«’d and wijied tears of pain from grimly; "I’m busy just at present, but tented after his. getting cut of <a « ho •—"I'm going to aud seizing one, si.uug it overh* ad . . Meantime, you liiijht fetch eyes, rollcitously tested his noso He found tie swe-.thcart and his treat my party to a joy-ride in your und cast it full I'« rce into the midriff friend much as he had left them, with seemed to derive litiie if any com- some water to revive Ler." cf his nearest enemy; so that this ono It was an order by no means easy this difference—that Mr. Barcus now pretty pewtibuat.” from the discovery that it was not doubled up convulsively, with a sick- lie concluded thts ten, opened his mouth . . . and to till; Earcus had only h.a cupped lay Cat on his back and snoring ish grunt, und vanished in turn over as barcus brought th* l ands for a vessel, sr.d l ’ ttle water lustily. embereil tho presence of a lady. ihe end cf the , half. quarter cf the power remained in them by tin limo he had II» was wakened quickly enough, *oor Mr. Barcus!” she said gently, His fellow followed with lees injury, Within tv.o minutes however, by Alan's uews. so sorry. Do forget I'm here— dashed from the shallows b ;<k to ti: ut Alan hud r.o time to wonder spinning contentedly, spot where Rose lay unconscious, But when it was the turn of Rose—- say it out loud!” whether the ntan had tripped and been slipped, cud t!r r Barcus dropped his hands and while the few drops he did manage they faltered. She lay so still, be heading out of tiie 1. thrown himself in hi- i-.i iit to e.-c.;po to sprinkle into her iace availed noth trayed her exhaustion so patently in •ped hi« head at the same time. u second 1 urtling keg, cr had turned Within live minutes she bail left It t can't be did,” he complained in ing toward rousing her from tho every line of her unconscious posture, well astern and was shooting rupidly coward und fled. It was euough tii.it ittered resignation; "the words trance-like slumbers of exhaustion into te well as in the sharp pallor of her westward, making nothing cf the buf ho hud returned, precipitately and which she passed from her fainting face upturned to the moon, that it r never been invented . . fets of a very to) r hie s kicked up heavily, to the bi hooner. seemed scarcely less than downright the bows Mr. I.aw (who had fit. . . . Tho keg. meeting with no resistance, by the freshening southwesterly wind. in the end Alan gave up the effoit, inhumanity to disturb her. dy saved himself a headlong pursued him even to the deck, where "My friend, - ’ observed Alan, “ as None the less, it had to be done. ge overboard when the shoal took "She's all right,” be reported, relcas« our acquaintance ript-ns 1 am more tho force of its impact split its seams. hold of the keel) felt tenderly of iug the wrist whose pulse he had been Alan hardened his heart with the re and more impressed that neither of us None of tho combatants, however, timing. “ She fainted, right enough, minder of their urgent necessity, and excoriated shins, then, rising, corn Alan least of all, noticed that tho pow born to die n natural death. ed the sea, sky and shore with an but now she's just asleep—and needs der that Altered out »as black nnd it, God knows! it would be kinder ous gaze. coarse. Alan, indeed, hnd only tho to let her rest, at-least until I see what the ofling there was nothing but, haziest notion that they were powder flat, limitless expanse of the night-, sort of a recepticn that ligbihouse is kegs he used us ammunition. That id tide, near at hand vaguely sil» inclined to offer us." they were heavy and hurt when they "You'll go. then?’ Earcus inquired. d with the moonlight, in the dis collided with human flesh and bona es blending into shadows; never "I'd just as lief, myself . . .” was all that inter* Bled him. "No; let me, ” Aian insisted. "It's ght or shadowy, stealing sail in In the same breath he heard a not far—not more than a quarter of a quarter to indicate pursuit. friend! • voice shout warning far up Vliere are we!" he wondered aloud, mile. And she ll be safe enough here, the dock, and knew that Barcus was isk me an easy one,” Barcus re- in your care, the little time l’ni gone.” coming to his aid. Barcus nodded. His face was drawn 1; "somewhere on the south shoro A glance over-shoulder, too, discov he cape—unless somebody's been and gray in the moon glare. "Thank ered tho cause of the warning; two pering with tlio lay of tbls land, God!” he breathed brokenly, “you’re mon who had thus far escaped Ida able. I’m not.” • t's a lighthouse over yonder.” attentions were maneuvering to fall He sat down suddenly end rested his Ian took soundings from the bows, upon him from behind. Tho bound required to evade them brought him tarely two feet,” he announced, head on his knees. ."Don't be longer face to face with Judith ns she landed drawing the oar from the water, than you can help,” he muttered thickly. on tho dock. 1 eel gra6s no end." He had come to (lie hec.dland of she cried, "I hate you. I liato )h!” Barcus ejaculated with the nt of enlightenment; and leaving the lighthouse itself before the ground "So you've Baid, my dear, but—” motor, turned to the stern, over began to shelve more gently to thq Ills final words were not audible ■h he draped himself in highly un- beach; and was on the point of ad even to himself. In his confidence •rative fashion while groping un dressing hims .lt to the dark and silent cottage of the light keeper when he (now that Barcus was taking care, of water for the propeller, the others) und his impatience with ihal's the answer,” lie repeated; paused, struck by sight of what (ill the woman, and in his perhaps un re's a young bale of the said eel- then had been liiddeu from him. The promontory, lie found, formed worthy wi3h to demonstrate conclu s wrapped round the wheel* I the eastern extremity of a wide-’.ruled sively how cheap ho held her, Alun ch, 1 suppose, means I’ve got tn if shallow barboi where rode at moor- hnd tossid the pistol over the end of overboard and clear it away.” tho wharf. ike Mr. Law, lie wore neither shoes i >gs a considerable number «if t "all It was an old-fashioned weapon, and other garments that could be more craft—pleasure vtxseh assorted about the force with which it struck tho •aged by salt water than they had equally with fishing boat3. Aud barely deck released the hummer. i—but only shirt, trousers aud a an eighth cf a mile on, long ¡egged wharves stood knee-deep in tiie water, instantly the .44 cartridge blazed into the open head of a broken powder f you've nothing better to do, my like tentacles flung cut from the sleepy keg. leal friend,” he observed as he little fishing village that dotted tho And with a roar llko the trump of •ped to hack and tear at the mass rising ground—a community of pe-r- Two Men Shadowed Him doom and a mighty gust of flame und weed embarrassing the propeller, hape two hundred dwellings. I Nor was this all—even as Alan hove eventually brought her to with tho u might step out and give us a whether abed or at the hands of those smoke the decks of the schooner were I ehove. Don't strain yourself— in view of the villag3 be beard a series aid of a few drops of brandy. who dislike us; but rather to be riven and shattered; her masts tot cf staccato snorts, the harsh telling of tered and fell . . . Between them, they helped her up hanged as common pirates." t see if you can move her.” 'lie boat budged not an inch—but n brazen bell, the rumble cf a train the beach, past the point, and at length "You have the courage of igno CHAPTER XXI. Lav. 's feet did, slipping on tho pulling cut from a staticn. And then to the door of tiie hotel, where—reani rance,” Barcus replied coolly; “if »cherous mud bottom with the up- (lie saw its jewel-string of lights flash mated by the mere promise of food— you’ll take the trouble to glance astern Anticlimax. t of his downfall; with a mighty athwart the landscape and vanish as Rose disengaged their arms and en I promlee you a sight that will move Alan came to himself supported ly tered without more assistance; while you to suspend judgment for the time ash he disappeared momentarily i its noi.o died away diminuendo. ! Where one train ran another must. Barcus was deterred fiom treading Barcus—lbs senses still reeling from icatli the eurface—and left his tern- He need only now secure someth'ng her heels in his own famished eager being.” the c ncusslon of that thunderbolt • behind him when he emerged. At this Alan sat up with a start. Is for Mr. Barcus, he suffered like to revive Rose, help her somehow up ness, by tho liandcf Alan falling heav l ack against tho loom cf the Eliza vhi'h he had so unwittingly loosed— s within five minutes; when, with the beach, and in another hour cr two, ily upon bis arm. beth islands through which they had th i cloud of sulphurous .moke and yet "Wait!” the latter admonished in navigated while he nodded, shone tho e asipated by tho wind. ch pains and patience having freed cf a certainty, they would ba spe.al- Judith lay ut his feet, stunned; and 1 wheel, he climbed aboard and ing northwards, up the cape, toward n. half-whisper. “Look thero!” milk-white sails of an able sebocaer. Barcus followc«! the direction of his lght to restart the motor. After Boston and the land of law and order. Sheets all taut and e.-ory inch cf round about other figures of men In- Such thoughts as these, at least, gesture—and was transfixed by the ew affecting couglis it relapsed into canvas fat with the bouin wind, she i enslble, if not, for all ho could say, made up the texture of his hopes; the sight of a rocket spearing into the footed It merrily In th* r wake a sil dead. ibborn silence. And then Barcus was hustling him Studious examination at length outcome proved them somewhat too night-draped sky from a point Invis ver jet spouting ft m for cutwater. He jogged down a ible beyond the headland of the light unceremoniously down the wharf. ought out the fact that the gasoline presumptuous. quiet village street end into Hie rail house. "Come! Come!” ho rallied Alan, nk was empty. CHAPTER XX. road station just as the ngc-nt was clos The two consulted ono another with I "Pull yourself together and keep a “Not so much as a smell left, ing up for the night. stiff upper lip. Rosa Is waiting hi startled and fearful eyes. 3 reported. Hell-Fire. A surly citizen, this agent, i!l-pleascd As with one voice they murmured But by this ete.ge in his history Mr. the car, and if you don’t want to be to have hi® plans disordered by chance- one word: "Judith!” To this Alan Law had arrived nt a state of mind arrested you'll stir your stump«*, my flung strangers. Be greeted Alans added gravely: “Or some spy of immune to surprise at the discovery eon! That explosion is going to bring breathless query with a grunt of in- hers!” that he had once more failed to eludo the worthy burghers of New Bedford grained churlishness. Then rousing, Alan released his tha vigilance and pertinacity of tho buzzing round our cars like a swarm "Nah," he averred. "they al ,’t no friend, with a smart shove urging him woman who sought Iris life. of hornets!* more trains till mornin’. Can't y’ see across the threshold of the hotel. His prediction wns justified even He viewed the schooner with no I'm shuttin’ up?” "Go on,” he insisted, "join Rose and more display of emotion than resided before it was made; air.- dy the near "Bjit surely there must he a tele get your supper. I ll be with you as In narrowing eyelids and a tightening by dwellings were v< inltlng half clothed humanity: already a score of graph station—" soon as I can arrange for a boat. Tell of the muscles about his mouth. “You bet ycur life they Is—right her nothing more than that—that 1 "Much farther to go?” he inquired people v.ere galloping down toward the head of the wharf; and in their here in this depct. An’ I’m eliuttin’ it thought it unwise to wait until every presently, in a colorless voice. number a policeman uppeared as if by up, too.” body was abed before looking round.” two pace — say, "At our pnsent “Has the operator tono fur tho Ho turned to find his landlord ap hours.” magic. And while the man hesitated Alan proaching from the direction of the night?” "And will that cnabla us to hold grabbed him by the shoulder, threw "He’s going. I'm the op'iator. No hotel barroom. And for the timo it our own?” business transacted after office hours. reemed that the wind of their luck “Just about,” Barcus allowed, squint him bodily from the car, dr< pped into Call raound at elzht o'clock tomor must have veered to a favoring quar ing critically nt tin* chase; "she's l.is seat, cried a warning to Rose, and row mnrnin’. Now if you'll jcct step ter; for the question was barely ut Feme footer, that :■« hooner; and tills threw In tho clutch. The mar bine re sponded without a Jar; they were a cut of that door, l'il say g'<l night to tered beforo the landlord lifted a will : is just the wind rhe likes best." hundred feet distant from the scene you." ing voice and hailed a fellow towns- "How much I a«l have v.o got?” is®* of the accident before Alan was fairly "But I must rend a telegram,” Alan man idling nearby. -¿«a»/ "A mile or so—none tro much.” protested. "I tell you. I must, It’d "Hey. Jake—come here!” “Anything to bo du; e to mend mat settled in his place. As he grew more and more calm, be a matter of life and death.” Introduced as Mr. Breed, Jake ters ?" » K« "Sura, young feller. It always 13— pleaded guilty to ownerbhip of the "Nothing—but pray, if you remain- congratulated himself on having drawn an excellent car In the lottery of after business hours.” ■ fastest aud stanchest power-cruiser | ber how.” “Won't you open up again—” in the adjacent waters, which he was I In the end they made it by a narrow chance. It was light, but the motor “I tell you, no!" avariciously keen to charter. in: rgln. The f of Ju«l!th Trine was ran famously, nnd If not capable of In desperation Alan rammed a hand They observed haste nliglously; | distinctly revealed by tiie * hili gray a racing pace It would serve liia ends Jnto his trousers pocket. "Will a dol within ten minutes they stood upon a j light of early dawrn to those aboard as speedily as was « xuh I o nt with Dug Into His Money Belt. lar Influence your better judgment?” float at the foot of a flight of wooden i tho power crulr»r as sho swept up reasonable care for the life of the "It's no use,” he conceded at length. he suggested shrewdly. st* pa down the ride of tiro town wharf, 1 through the r «! « s cf New Bedford woman he loved. "Were here for keeps." Yet his congratulations were prema 1 ' "Let's see your dollar.” the other re while tho promised rowboat of Mr. ¡.arbor and aimed for tbe first wharf "Why net wade ashore?" Rose Trine turned with no less craft—open in Breed drew In, at moil leisurely pace, . that prom If. *1 a fair landing on th’» ture; tficy were not t<-n minutes out suggested mildly from the place she credulity informing bis ccuntenan cf the environ« of tho city when Rot <■ to meet them. main waterfront cf t! o city. had taken in the etern in order to And, surely enough, Alan brought Aboard and away from the wharf, There was neither a policeman no» left her seat and knelt behind his, to lighten the bows. "It isn't far—and forth an empty band. communicate the intelligent that the burden of Alan's solicitude seem-'d | a watchman cf any sort in eight. what's one more wetting?” I "Make a light,” he said sharply. "My to grew lighter with every squt -il I Nor was there, for all his Lopes and they were already being pursued. "Thai's the only sensible remark money's in a belt round my waist of the greaself ss oarlocks, with ev I prayers, I red « u H e telegram to A heavy touring car, she said It was. that's been uttered by any party to Open your office. You 11 get your dol- ery dip and splash of tho blades I Digby, a s.rn < f a riot, r cur. driven by a man, u woman In th» tills lunatic enterprise since you hove 1 st , all right." which, wielded by a crew of villainous Still, not much cf t: ■ street wan seat by his side—Judith the latter, the within earshot of me, Mr. Law,” said r ian an old employe of h< r father*« "All right.” bo grumbled, reopening countenance, brougl t them nearer tho I revealed. The deck Mr. Barcus. "Respectfully submitted.” the door of the telegraph booth and handsome motorboat which Mr. Breed were waHc-d and roof by the name of Marrophat. "Tho verdict of the lower court making a second light inside. "There's designated as his own. It was not I view. Marrophat! I Alan remembered that one. stands approved," Alan responded blanks aud a pencil. Write your mes- until Alan looked up suddenly to find If they ran for it, they must surely He could only trust In his skill ns gravely. sage. It ain't often I do this—but 1 11 ' Mr. Breed covering him with a re« be overhauled. For ’thing must ba "But there's no sense in Miss Trine make an exception tor you.” 1 volver of most vicious character that «Jone to hinder tl CI cw of the a driver, and «kill is tho icsset factor wading.” Barcus suggested. "Were in tijrh a race. Alan delayed long enough only to I he had the least apprcbeji iiun of any i schooner from lai web-fccted as it io, and she's too make a few inquiries, drawing out , danger nearer than the offing, where They could overtake tho f.: -Hives "Here!" be crle* 1 sharply to Barcus. tired " I the information that, for one who had , Judith's e* hooner might bs lurking, "You take Rose and hurry to the practically when they would. "Well, wliat then?” not patience to wait the morning I waiting for its prey to come out and street and find that motor-car. Hut for semo weird, incomprehen I “We can cairy her, can't wet’ train northbound, tbe quickest way < be devoured. I know she's there. LlgLy never failed sible reason they chose to hang a cer to any city of Importance «as by boat tain distance In the rear, a distance "I’ll take that money-belt of yours, me yeti" CHAPTER XIX. across Buzzaid's bay to New Bedford. young feller,” Mr. Breed announced, that could readily be bridged by two "But you—” Boats, it was implied, were plentl I "aud be quick about it- not forg-tting "Don't warto timo worrying about minutes of furiou« driving. “Gee!” he grunted frankly, when fol. readily to be chartered. | wbat's in your trousers pocket!” Why? , me. Ell be with you in three shakes. after a toilsome progress from the A time-table supplied all other need In tbe passion of his indignation I’m only going to put a spoko In Ju In the succeeding qunrter-hi.ur the boat, Lose at length slipped from the ful advice. Alan wrote bls message Alan neglected entirely to play tho calmness of fatall m br-erme Alan's. dl’h's wheel. I've got a s heme!" seat formed by the clasped hands ol game by tbe rules. The Indifference swiftly. As for his ««heme—bo had non.r They were biding their time for some t' c two men. "And it was me who Addressed to Digby, bls man ct be displayed toward ti e weapon was ottier than to give them battle, to sac secret and fatal purpose. The blow : rgested this!" business in New York. It required that positively unprofessional — for ho was predestined to fall, but cruelly de The girl responded with a quiet gentleman to arrange for a motor-cor knocked It aside as If It had be'-n rifice himself if need be, to make sure ferred. laugh of the most natural effect tmag to be held in waiting on the water- ' nothing more dangerous than a straw. the escape cf Rose. For his own part, he drove like an Sheer luck sm'led on him to this In able—until It ended in a sigh, ant front of New Bedford from 3 CO a. zn ! And In the seme flutter of an eyelash nt optionally running madman. . . . extent, that in turning bls eye 1. shied v.ithcnt the least warning she crum until called for in tbe name of Mr. I bo launched himself like a wildcat at And thm. quite clearly, he re«eg- on a four-foot length of stout, three- l-i-?d upon terseif, and would have Law. as well <•• for a special t* '.a t* - »•—>rt of*Mr. Breed. tiled the lime and Us >UM aud U inch scantling, an «.k..)icut!y to. fallen heavily, in a dead faint, but io» F*v»«*»«uv^ oa I p-ovisions. Leiv.v .^wt iie kuew wuat was bsjr ■ mldaule club. AUu's tulctoee». -------------- I I i I i i I character of the road that lay before him as the car sped like a dragon fly down a slight grade. From tho bottom of the grado It swung away in a wide, graceful curve, bordered for some distance by railroad tracks on a slightly lo-.er level. Ho had gu* sed t«e fiendish plan of tho other driver only too truly. As they approached at express speed the stretch where the road par- : Holed the tracks Alan sought to hug the left-hand side of the road, but hi vain. Roaring, with its muffler cut out. the I utsuing car swept up and battled him, bringing Its right forward wheel up b< side the left rear wheel of his car, then more slowly forging up until, with its weight, bulk and superior power, it forced him inch by iuch to tho right, toward the tracks, until his right-hand wheels left the road and ran on uneven turf, until the left-hand wheels as well lost grip on the road metal, until the car began to dip on the slope to tho tracks. lie heard the far hoot-toot of a freight locomotive . . . There followed a maniac moment, when the world was upside down. Alan's car slipped and skidded, swung sideways with frightful momentum toward the railroad tracks, caught its wheels against the ties, and . . . The sun swung in the heavens like a ball on a string. There was a crash, a roar . . , There was nothing—ob livion . . . The car had turned turtle, pinning Rose and Alan beneath It. "Alan!" she gasped, "You are not killed?" "No—not even much hurt, I fancy, ho replied. "And you?” "Not much—” The d. op-throated roar of the loco motive bellowing dnnger silenced him. He closed Ills eyes. Then abruptly the weight was lifted from his chest. He saw a man drag ging Rose from under the machine, and saw that tire man was Marrophat. And almost immediately someone lift cd his head nnd shoulders, caught him with two hands beneath his arm pit* and drew him clear of the machine. And the face of his rescuer was the face of Judith Trine. The crash he hnd expected, of the car being ciumpled up by the oncom ing locomotive, did not follow. As lie scrambled to hie feet, hie flrat glance was up tho track, and discov ered the train slowing to a halt. Ills next was one of wonder for th« countenance of Judith Trine as sh« stood, at a little distance, regarding him; her lot k almost Illegible, n curl- - as c.impound cf passions coloring It— i. lief, regret, hatred, love . . . His third glance descried beyond her tho tlgnres of Mnrrophat carrying Ros« In his arms, stumbling ns bo ran toward bin car on the highroad. He moved precipitately to pursue, but found his way barred by Judith. "No!" rhe cried violently, “No, you shall not—I” Her baud sought the grip of a re- vol-- r that protruded from her pocket With n short, hysterical gasp, he be gan to laugh. "Wh.-it!” ho taunted her—"again?” “Think what you like!" she cried In a frenzy. "You caved me once—now I spare you. Wo'ro quite. But next rot!” he Interjected. "You will Th« Face of Judith Was Distinctly Revealed. • L.ivo the courage to pull that tri*; or wli'n I'm helpless in your hands!” I t I L.< d tnantb-d her exquisite bfo- r* d I r<-. She caught her r-. ii v. ti a st.b, then flung wildly at him: "’>• • I, if you must know—it's true. I c..._ l bling mysult to kill you. I ild i <'•■ <1 I icidd. But I can’t I ir .di that., you shall dis—I could not mivi! you if 1 would! And this l prom ise y i you »ball never see Rosa again before you die!" And while he stood gaping, she swung from him and ran, quickly cor- «•ring the little distance between him and the car. As she jumped Into this and dropped down upon the seat beside .her half- conscious slater. Marrophat swung the rar away. It vanished in a dust-cloud as * throng of railroad employee surround- I «rd assailed blns with clamoroM i,uesl«vuu.
