Transcriber's Note:
This book is an example of early pulp fiction. It was
published in 1908 by The Arthur Westbrook Co. as Adventure
Series No. 76. "Old Sleuth" is the pseudonym of Harlan Page
Halsey (1837-1898).
"Hold, Stranger!"
The words fell from beautiful lips under the most excitingcircumstances.
A boat rocked upon the calm water that murmured along theshore, when a young man came down from the upper bank of whitedrift sand, and seized the tiller rope. He had the rope inhis hand, his arm was upraised to draw the boat to his feet,when he was startled by hearing the words with which we openour narrative.
The young man turned toward the speaker, and encountered asight that caused his handsome eyes to bulge with amazement.
It was a clear, cloudless night, and a half moon shed itsdiminished radiance on surrounding objects, and revealed tothe astonished gaze of the young man the weird-appearingfigure of a young girl.
One glance was sufficient to announce the fact that the girlwas beautiful, but alas! in what questionable shape did sheappear? She was attired in a loose gown tightened about thewaist with a leathern belt, her feet were bare, and her longhair hung unkempt upon her shoulders.
As our old-time readers know, we are not heavy on thebeauty-describing business, and we will merely declare thatthe girl was indeed a lovely creature, clad in rags; but shewas beautiful, and Spencer Vance, the young man, discernedthe fact at a glance, and his amazement was the greaterbecause of the thrilling conditions under which re beheldso great loveliness.
The young man made no immediate answer to the girl's abruptsalutation, but merely stood and gazed at her without anyattempt to conceal his utter astonishment.
"You must not go off in the yacht to-night!" said the girl.
"Why must I stay ashore to-night?"
"Danger is ahead of you!"
"But I am an old sailor, miss; I can take care of myself, Ireckon."
The girl drew close to the young man, laid her hand upon hisarm, and in a husky voice, whispered:
"The danger comes not from the sea! You will be a victim!"
The young man let the boat line fall from his grasp, a fiercelight shone in his eyes, and there was a tremulousness, butnot of fear, in his voice as he demanded:
"Who sent you to tell me this?"
"It matters not, you are doomed if you go on the yachtto-night! never again will your feet press the hard shore,but the waves will cast you up!"
"Who are you, miss, and why have you come to warn me?"
A moment the girl was silent. She hung her head and appearedlost in thought, but at length, looking up and fixing hermagnificent blue eyes upon the young man, she said:
"I do not know who I am, but I do know that if you go out onthe yacht to-night, you will never return till the waves washyour dead form to the beach!"
"You must have some reason for coming to warn me?"
"Yes; I would save your life!"
"Why are you so deeply interested in saving my life?"
"I would warn anyone whom I knew was in peril! and you mustheed my words!"