Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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26 action always galled him, and it was galling him now during this eternal vigilance. Oh, if something would only come up to break it! At last something did come up. One dark night the lighthouse at Sandy Hook reported that a small yacht had been cruising up and down the coast ever since sunset. In the twinkling of an eye, Captain Doughty sprang into action. His shrill whistle told every man in the building that he had only tive minutes to dress and report. In less than that time thirty men, fully clothed and armed for action, piled into the powerful cars and were whisked down to the docks and the boats. Jim lined them up, gave quick orders, filed them onto the boats and gave the word to cast off. Gathering speed, the long, low craft with all lights out left the wharf and sped down the bay. Soon they were on the spot where the runner had been seen. Jim, with the powerful glasses, scanned the horizon on all seaward sides, but not a speck broke the heaving surface of the sea. After scouting up and down the coast for two hours, Jim was convinced that the contra- band craft had eluded them, and with a heavy heart he signaled the pilots to return to the docks. Back at his desk the next morning, .lim re- viewed the facts. He had so far been unsuc- cessful in his duty. Although it was no fault of his, the Commissioner would not consider that and would put him in disgrace. Only three short days remained of his probation. The outlook was discouraging. Then there was that matter of the nurse. He had not done anything for her-he had been unable to. She must think him a shirker. Oh, well, he thought, as his optimism burst forth, it could be worse. I'll get another chance, maybe. Letter for you, Cap, called one of the men, tossing him an envelope. More business, thought Jim, but no, it wasn't business. There was no heading on the envelope, which was addressed in a very feminine hand. Opening it he read the following note: Dear Captain Doughty: i I got a note from my boy friend yesterday, apologizing for the way he had acted. He said he wanted to see me, i n The Blue E-r VVhite too. He had just got back from the south with a cargo, and he says they are going to try to land it tonight if it's dark. They tried last night, but they had to quit when their shore man telegraphed that the patrol boat was after them. I suppose you think this is treason against Bill, but I want to set him straight, and, as he really isn't a hard- ened crook, I think an arrest will set his mind against re- turning to this business. Please, for my sake, get him, Mr. Doughtyg but go easy on him. Your sincere friend, JANE Nawcomz. On reading this epistle, Iim's heart leaped with joy. At last something tangible to work on had appeared. Now he could lay a plan for action, and when they tried to land the stuff tonight he could be waiting for them. Think- ing quickly, he soon had a list of the wireless telegraph operators in the city. Then giving this to five men, he sent them out to round up the operators. Out of the twenty that the officers brought in, the accomplice of the boot- legger was soon picked and locked up. After notifying his shore squads to keep an eagle watch, he repaired with the company to the boats for the remainder of the day to be ab- solutely sure that every gun and piece of ap- paratus Was in perfect working order. The sky had been overcast for the last three days. so an attempt would surely be made to land when the rum-runner received no warning from the shore man. The stage was all set for the final act. At seven o'clock the hawsers were cast aboard, and the slim craft again set out on its quest. By seven-thirty it had left New York harbor and was out on the lower bay, where their prey would have to pass them. Then be- gan the ceaseless patrol from one shore to the other, a distance of three miles. Every light on the boat was out except the binacle lamp, and that was shaded so as to be invisible from the outside. The men were forbidden to smoke. The engine was muffled to inaudi- bility. The submarine detectors on the hull of the boat were us-ed every fifteen minutes. VVhen their own propellor was silenced, these marvelously sensitive pieces of apparatus could detect the passage of any vessel within

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VVestbrook High School Qvfilislhw I 25 Peters ' Fruit Store Cmp f'm of NEXT TO BIffNOIT'S Caoicerz' of Frails HOIVIIC-IVIADIC CANDlI+ISfn1ade daily in our L. Candy Kitchen VISIT OUR CANDY KITCHEN Speczafizzhg 171 Frm? Basietr LOWNEY'S cHoeoLATEs ll7df6777ld7Z 'J Fozmfain Pear CHILTON PENCII.s AND PENS K. PA I N E, Druggist Warren Block, Cumberland Mills CHRISTYIS HOME BAKERY 831, MAIN STREET Try our JELLY DOUGHNUTS, RAISED S DOUGHNUTS and COFFEE CAKES ar Mat ir our rperialty FOYE' S HOE REPAIRING SHOP 410 lXIAIN S'I'RIiIi'l' CLIIIIEEIILANIJ MILLS, IYIAINE 'I1EI.I:I'HoNE CON i'IoN PRATT 8: BLA-CK 426 MAIN STREET CUMBERLAND MILLS, MAINE Graham - Paige Safer and Serfvice TVVOMBLY'S TIRE SHOP DAYTON Tl RES PHILCO RADIOS N ash Cars SERIES 400 C. VV. KELSON GROCERIES MEATS PROVISI O NS I06 Brown Street Telephone 294 Member of I. G. A. STORES CR ESSEYGE GRAFFA M 400 Main Street Groceries and Provisions Meats and Fresh Fish I LOWE BROTHERS PAINTS AND VARNISHES

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vvootofook High School 27 ten miles of them. They stood a very good chance of bagging their prey. jim, on the bridge, with the phone of the detector on his ear, was the picture of watch- fulness. As the' craft swiftly cut the choppy waves, the salt spray blew over him, but he stood steadfast, frequently using the glasses. He was hoping and praying that he would suc- ceed tonight, for it was his last chance. Suddenly he .noticed a faint but increasing rustling in his receivers. Was that his quarry? The sound came from some distance, however, and he could not yet tell. The suspense made him hdget as he watched and waited. The rustle grew to a rumble and then to a roar much too loud for a small boat. It must be a linerf, thought Jim, and a liner it was. She soon passed them, but unaccountably the roar diminished only slightly. The only solution was another vessel. They were now almost exactly halfway be- tween the two coasts, and Jim ordered the motors stopped to insure complete silence. After a short time the sound in his phones stopped also. Then off to one side about a mile, a tiny glow showed for an instant and flickered out. An answering glow showed on There were the men who the farther shore. had defied him so long! His heart beat faster as he ordered full speed in the direction of the first light. Action was in sight at last! The slim patrol boat leaped ahead like a loosed whippet, the spray Hying in a cloud from her cleaving bow. In less than three minutes she covered the distance to the spot. VVhen she arrived, however, the other craft had disappeared. jim brought the two bril- liant searchlights into play and soon picked her out about a quarter of a mile nearer shore. Upon being discovered the pursued boat started for the twelve-mile limit as fast as it was possible to make her go, with .lim's com- pany in full pursuit. The former was fast but the patrol was even faster, and the distance slowly diminished until they were only a scant hundred feet apart. It was then that Jim unleashed the one- pounder on the forward deck and sent a shot whistling across her bows. Then snatching a megaphone, he shouted, I-Ieave to, or we'll sink you. VVas she going to obey? For some time she kept her pace, but, when another accurate shot brought down her one stubby mast, she slowed down and allowed the patrol boat to draw up alongside. Quickly Jim jumped aboard with a picked squad, pistols drawn, and found the crew of five in the wheelhouse. He hustled them onto his own craft and manned the rum-runner with a few of his own men. Then he started to whistle as they set out for the harbor. Why shouldn't he? A quick inspection had showed a cargo of liquor worth about S50,000, the big- gest haul in three years. The time had come when he could get a good night's sleep. The Commissioner wishes to see you. Cap- tain Doughty, very deferentially called the office boy next morning. Jim again entered the inner room to flnd his superior waiting for him with outstretched hand. Congratulations, Captain, greeted the po- lice head. Thanks, sir, modestly replied Jim. Captain, I think I must withdraw my state- ment of a month ago. I see now where I was wrong. I have decided, after hearing of your performance of last night, to make you perma- nently the Captain of the liquor squad. Oh, thank you again, sir, responded the pleased subordinate. VVell, just do your best, and you will suc- ceed. Good day. This was much more than Jim had expected, and he was highly elated. But haven't I for- gotten somethingf' thought he. Reaching for the telephone he asked for the City Hospital, and getting it, demanded Miss Newcombe. Hello, her sweet voice came to him. Hello, Miss Newcombe. Captain Doughty speaking. VVe pulled in a bunch of bootleggers last night, and I think I've got your man. You had better come down and see.