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. of which he
“6
HAPPY DAYS
It was worth trying anyway, and Nat de-
cided to make the attempt,
He would have to keep Pp up a lively fire
upon the members of the band, however, to
keep them from taking good aim
while at work, and, taking J his revolver in
his left hand, he opened fi:
Euls shots had the effect “of causing the
men to jump domp. off the benches and |
scamper in under the protecting edges of
the room, and while they were doing this
Nat jerked off a dozen laths and tested the /
boards of the floor above.
To his delight he found a couple of loose
ones, and, lying upon his pack, he stuck
his feet up against the boards and pushed
with all his might.
‘The boards gave way, breaking off at the
next joist, and just then the members of
the band discovered what Nat was up to
and opened fire again.
Nat returned their fire, causing them to
seek protection under the edge of the room
again, and, taking cedvantage of his op-
portunity, Nat qu stuck his
head up through the ‘hole he had forced and
then pulled his body up throu;
Not a moment too soon, either, “tor @ per-
fect storm of bullets came hurtling up
through a8 he leaped to one side.
Nat gav
that he was in a gambling room.
Faro, stud poker and crap tables were
there and games had been
though now the habj
feet, staring in speechless astonishment at
Nat.
with quick presence of mind, 1, __Nat
shou
othe cops! They’re after me and
up through there in a moment! Out of
here everybody!” and as a rush was made
for & Stairway at one corner, Nat went with
the -
they
scattered, some going through the-saloon
to the Street a others out at a back door
into ‘the
Nat went “through the saloon and’ out
upon the street
Then, with a igh of relief at his escape,
Nat made his way toward his offic?.
“That was a narrow squeal!” 1 he said t
himself. “I’1 have to look out for those
fellows now. They’re desperate and will
murder me on sight. But I’ll down them,
just the same,”
CHAPTER XV.
A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
the auestion is, howam rt going to follow
tNat studied the situation a few mo-
ments and then made a dectslon.
“There’s only one way,” he said to him-
self. “If I go I shall have to go on that
ssel. There is no other .
vet his would be a dangerous thing to do,
but Nat was just the man to make the at-
tempt, and with this idea he carefully ap-
2 proached the vessel, keeping the high point
{ he bow between him and the men on
e deck as much “as possible,
mess the bow, Nat stooped low and
stole along the side of the schooner to the
stern,
The yessel was lying broadside to the
pier and the stern chains were not six feet
from Nat, who eyed them caleulatingly.
“I wish I could reach them,” he mut-
tered. “Perhaps I can find a piece ot board
to lay from the pier up to them,” and he
would have gone to look for a board, but
at that moment the rope at the bow was
cast off and the schooner begangto
. The crew was losing no time in wpetting
under way.
Nat thought he was going to be left be-
hing ater ' ally but fortune favored him.
in almost against
the pier and the chains were brought al-
most within Nat’s reac!
uite, however, but as Nat saw the
tues were on their vessel slowly draw away he decided to take
sk, aud, measuring the distance as
well as he was able, he leaped forward
and outw:
He was “guccessful,
His hands reached the chains, which
were grasped with a grip of iron, and with
an exertion of his great strength, Nat drew
himself up and seated himself in the chains.
His-head was just below the edge of the
Up vine ‘stairway they went and out into | deck, and, by stretching his neck slightly,
Nat could see everything that was going
on.
smtowever, as there could be nothing of
portance transpiring on the deck, Nat
aia not take chances by exposing his head.
could hear the men talking, however.
| Slowly the schooner headed out into the
| lake, and, getting out where it had plenty
0 | of room, its head was. turned toward the
north.
A couple of the men went aloft and
spread the large sails | and soon the vessel
was making good hea
© kept about a nile out from shore
and ‘sailed steadjly onward for twd hours.
Nat was getting tired.
His cramped position on the chains was
xery uncomfortable, and you may be sure he
glad when at last the schooner’s nose
Nat had gone oe a short distance when was headed in toward the shore,
@ thought struck hi
He stopped, stepped, ‘into a hallway, and,
making a few quick changes in his appear-
ance, stepped out upon the street again and
8 the vessel drew near the shore Nat
saw that at the point where the vessel
would touch was heavy timber.
Straight in toward the shore the vessel
hastened back in the direction from which | went, nor did it stop until after it had en-
e,
He had remembered that the saloon out
the same one he had entered when follow-
ing Montjoy the evening Before, was only a
few doors removed from it, and, hastening
past the first-named saloon, Nat took up
tered a little buy perhaps a hundred yards
in diameter, through a narrow entrance
had just emerged, while not | Which was not ‘visible, on account of the
overlapping branches of the trees, & quarter
a mile out, even in the day tin
Nat crouched in the chains and waited.
He feared he would be discovered, but
is
position just on one side of the entrance to must take his chances.
“the other.
Nat's idea was that the members of the
white 3 robed band would come out this way,
rtune favored him, however.
men tied the schooner up by a rope
at ‘the bow, the rope being fastened around
vould take them some little time to | 2 Dig tree, but none of them came to the
dott their robes and get out, and he felt
reasonably certain that they had not yet
come out.
Nor had they.
Nat had hardly taken ‘up his position,
when half a dozen men emerged from the
saloon.
There was something about their actions
that made them appear other than ordi-
nary ifequenters of saloons. .
T looked and acted differently. ~
I t was sure that these men were mem-
bers of the white robed band.
one hardly knew whether to follow these
ie knew there were more to c
A sentence one let drop as they turned
up, the street, however, decided Nat.
don’t see what’s the use of: us goin’
back to work to-night if we ain’t going to
do anything more in the city for awhile,”
was what the man said, and this gave Nat
an idea.
Perhaps these men were the manufactur-
ers—-the printers of the counterfeit money,
and if so, they were now starting for the
place where the factory was located. °
Nothing could be of. more importance
than to know where this work was done, as,
when the proper time came, he would know
right where to go to lay his hands upon
the counterfeiters’ outfit, and Nat decided
to follow and secpre this information aif
possible to do
The men heated for the lake front, and trai
Nor
Nat kept them in sight, being careful not
to crowd them too closely.
He did not wish to spoil his present op-
stern,
Nat cautiously ralsed his head and took
a ey of
It being night and in the shadow of the
trees there was not much danger of dis-
covery.
The men were just going ashore and were
leaving at the bow, where a sort of gang
plank had been rigged from the shore.
As soon as they were all oif the schooner
Nat clambered aboa:
Then, keeping to ‘the side farthest from
the men, Nat made his way to the bow.
The men were just disappearing amon 1S
the trees, and, fearing he might lose them,
Nat quickly made his way down the gang-
Plank and set out after t!
It was very dark in the heavy timber and
Nat had to trust almost altogether to his
sense of hearing. ¢
The men did not make much noise, but
Nat could hear their footsteps and man-
aged to keep on their trai
After a walk of perhaps half a mile the
men came to a stop, and, stealing up close,
Nat was in time to see them disappear with-
in * log cabin, which had doubtless been
built many years before by some hunter.
Nat waited to see what the men would
le did not wish to tread too closely on
their heels, and going into the old cabin
might be a dodge to trap possible follow-
ive minutes passed and no sound came
within the cab
had a light been struck.
Nat waited another five minutes.
Still no sounds from within the cabin
‘portunity by letting them discover that | or evidences that it was occupied.
they were being shado’
Reaching the pier at the lake,
made their way to where a trim little
schooner was lying and went on boa
a!” muttered Nat. “The coun-
tel relt 3 money factory is. somewhere out-
side the city, and the schooner is used inj this is the case—and I’ve
now | shake.”
making trips back and forth. Well,
Suddenly Nat stirred and an exclama-
the men | tion of Vexation fscaped
“Fool t mi!” he cri ried, half aloud.
“Why didnt I think of that before? They
went in at this side and right on through
and out at a back door, I'll wager that
been given the
Nat quickly made his way around to the
rear of the cabin.
‘o his surprise there was no | door there.
Nor was there even a W!
“Great Scott!” he said to himself, “I was
mistaken after all. But perhaps the door
in the end,” and he went and- looked
ere. .
There was neither door nor window
there, nor in the other end of the cabin,
which he had passed in, going around to
the rear.
Nat was puzzled.
Moreover, he began exercising great care
in his movements,
The men must still be inside.
They could not have gotten out without
him seeing them.
Nat feared a trap, but finally went to the
window in front and peered in.
He could see nothing.
Neither could he hear anythin,
It was the most mysterious abair he had
ever encountered.
Finally he went to the door and pushed
against it.
It came open aud Nat leaped quickly
back, exbecting to hear the crack of re-
volver
None came, however, and, ! coming close
up to the open doorway, he gazed within.
He listened intently also and could hear
nothing.
He became impressed with the belief that
the men were not tl
Stepping boldly ‘into the “ eabi in, ‘Nat
opened the slide of his dark lantern, and
as the light from it illuminated the in-
terior of the cabin he glanced about the
ee
4
¢
om.
Not a soul save himself was in the room.
The six men he had seen enter the cabin
had disappeared.
hey had Botten out of ‘the cabin in some
manners oat how
They had gone somewhere—but where?
How and where? {
These were the questions that were puz-
zling Nat Parker as he stood Sarin about
the empty room in blank amazem
[To BE CONTINUED. ]
. 2
We ‘have increased our Grand Watch
Premium Offer from 50 to 100. See 8th
page.
[This story commenced in No. 272]
THOSE
Barclay Hoys
THE SHIP“THAT WAS LOST IN THE FOG
By GASTON GARNE,
Author of os “His Last og hance,” Hold-
ing His Own,” “Enchant ad Mountain,”
“The Boy Cliff Climber ete. .
CHAPTER XVI.
SIGNS OF THE COMING STORM.
It was when Ben Barclay was running
down after Bill toward the shore that ho
first noticed that the wind had changed,
and all Signs betokened the coming of a
heavy sto:
here was no time to think of it then,
howev
The ‘question was, how to save the Petrel
and per precious load?
he wild-looking stranger had already
cuceended in getting the anchor up, and
was “fussing” with the sail, but in such a
fashion as seemed to show that he was any-
thing but an expert at the business of man-
aging a boat
“Hello! “What in
about?” ‘shouted Bill.
mister!
Hey!”
Instead of anewering,
ly turned his head and scowled blackly at
Bill. He stuck his tongue out at him and
shook his his | Sst, acting more like a schoolboy
an
“Hey, 1 Ben! Who is that fellow?” cried
Bill, as ~his brother came boundin;
“Seems to me I’ve seen his face before.”
“Why, of course you have!” panted
“That's the man who hollered to us
help from the anc of the ship that went
down in the .
“Yon bet it is! It’s Orticot He's ¢
I think! Dave told me all about him, We ei
talk about it Jater, The thing now is to
save our boat.
The, boys made a rush for the rowboat
then.
As Ben was. | Pushing it off he noti
oy pea & ced that
thunder are you
“That’s our boat,
Do you mean to steal it? Hey!
the stranger mere-
8
“Go to blazes!” yelled the man, wildly,
The sail filled and the Petrel stood :
out of thee ove. away
“It’s up!” Basped ,Bill. “We've lost
the treasure chest aj
“Pull! Pull!” cried Ben.
my, this time Crissy had come down to
he beach,
ecyou won't desert me, boys?”
looking rather alarmed
| “Don’t you fear!” toute Ben.
isn’t going to be 2 long chase.
right back again.
He judged iby the bungling way in which -
th
she cried,
“This
We will be
s
if he don’t tack he will be driven right over
against the point there!” he remarked to
Bill.
He had scarcely spoken. when the man
sugaenty sprang up in the boat with aloud
wrikeep off! Keep oftt”
his arms wildly. ‘Keep off, Ran
shan't get the money! ~ No!
He threw his hands high above” his. Read
eee dropped down in the cockpit all i:
hea
The boat, no longer controlled, swung
around out of the wind, the sail flapped and
the boom swung across the deck, throwing
the Petrel on the other tack.
“Pull! Pull!” shouted Bill,
chance to get the boat, Ben!”
‘hey were alongside in ees than three
minutes.
Ben sprang aboard, and in a second had
the boat under control.
“Make fast behind, Bin!” he said, coolly.
“T’ve got her n
“What's the matter with that fellow? Is
be a ans demanded Bill, as he proceeded
, ‘Now is our
ey.
He's thrown a fit, I reckon... He’s down
here, all doubled up in a heap. No, I don’t
think he is dead. You can take him in
hand as soon as you get aboard.”
It was‘only a mnute pporore Bill was
ready to undertake the ji
Ortico seemed@-to be entirely umooHECiOUs,
He was breathing heavily. 's face was
red and flushed. He poked like 2. man suf-
fering from apoplex
When the boys got ‘the boat back to her
old anchorage, they lifted him out into the
small boat and pulled ashore.
By this time his face had lost some of its
red appearance, but he showed no signs of
returning consciousness.
“Who can he be?” asked Crissy. “Boys,
yeasts are we going to do with him? Is he
“Not dead set, ” replied Ben, ana/then he
explained all he knew about the
“We may as “well Jeave him here tn the
boat tin we se. if we can get into the
ouse,” remarked Ben. “Bill, you stay and
fateh him, or, rather, I will. Here, we
had better search him first. I don’t care to
Tun the risk of being shot.
Rand -must have gone
through him on the Cowry, which was no
doubt true enough.
Leaving him with Ben, Bill and Crissy
returned to the house, and, after a little
trouble, found a window which was not
secured.
t was an easy matter to open up the
house | thea, for the keys were in the locks
on the inside of the d
The rooms were rudely ‘furnished in the
usual style of the poorer class of New En-
gland houses along the coast.
ie looked as if the owner had just walked
ow
in the big pantry, wood in the shed, an
clean beds upstairs, all made up ready for
“The hh
that Ortico had pen prowling about inside
in search of
“We'll bring him up here and put him in
one of the beds, Miss Crissy,” said Bill. “I
hate to desert him, for I believe from what
en has told me that the poor fellow has
Anyhow, we will do the
Sy you take it all, Bilf” said
Crissy, “and Ben ts just the same. Posi-
tak it gives me courage to hear you boys
eg And why not take ityeasy?” replied Ben.
“What's the use in getting excited? We
are ina fi: ind we want to get out of it;
the only way to do is to be cool.”
‘Yes, jbut every one can’t do it the way
you do,
“Y an, and you do,” replied Bill, ad-
miringly. “You're the most level-headed
girl I ever saw.”
Crissy blushed at the Compliment, and
x weturned to the shor
change?” asked Bil
“Neve bit,” replied Ben,
open?”
“Yes.
vvgot the house
: Shall we take him up?”
Is it at all comfortahe up Pore?”
he cried. “See, it’s the ship’s boat, Bill” “You bet
7 t . . tis. Everything is as sung 2s
I see the sail of ,the Petrel going’ up! Y a
we nce, the Sail of going’ up! can be, You'll be surprised when you first
The boat was in the water now. Ben “well, the
a en, I may have time to get over
jumped in and seized the oars. , my surprise before [ see the | Jast of it,” said
0, there, Mr. Ortico! Hello!” he Ben, pointing seaward. k there, Bill.
shouted, as he pull off. “rust, wait a vhat do you say to that tw
moment; I want to speak to y Ben pointed to a mass of heavy black
he yelled, raving :
You
= sas aD
eee