Part 3 (2/2)

”Up the channel. Don't seem to be far off, either.”

”Come, boys,” said Old King Brady, ”we'll sneak along the bulkhead and see who it is. Crouch low, now. If it is the Chinamen prowling about, we may be able to bag them. Alice, you better go aboard the launch.”

”I'll stay here and watch the box,” replied Alice.

The old detective and the two Secret Service men now crept along the line of the bulkhead with their revolvers drawn.

Alice quickly lost sight of them in the fog, which was now thicker than ever.

”Alice, are you all right up there?” called Harry.

”Of course,” she replied. ”Why not?”

”I wish you would come down.”

”And abandon my imprisoned princess? I won't.”

Harry and Alice are lovers, and practically engaged.

Long ago they would have been married if Alice would only consent to give up her work.

But Alice is perfectly fascinated with the life of a detective, so the marriage day is forever being postponed, for Harry insists that Alice shall give up the business before becoming his wife.

But even under their present relations he sometimes tries to force her to yield to his ideas more than she cares for, although he has long ago learned that she is a difficult person to drive.

Harry knew by her tone now that Alice had made up her mind to stay just where she was, so he let the matter drop and was sitting in the launch in silence when suddenly a shot rang out.

It was followed by another, and others still.

Then Old King Brady shouted something in the distance, but Harry could not make out what he said.

”Alice!” he called, ”can you hear what the governor is saying?”

There was no answer.

”She don't seem to hear you,” observed the kicker.

”Alice!” shouted Harry again.

Still no answer.

”Can she have gone forward to see what that shooting is about?” he exclaimed. ”It would be just like her. I'm going up to see.”

”I hear somebody running,” cried the kicker.

Just then Old King Brady was heard calling out:

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