Raymond S. Spears

“ Her eyes narrowed as she looked down the search-light beam.
“Yes; he helped establish my reputation down this way,” she admitted. “Most anywhere else in the world a lady with a reputation lots of times deserves it but don’t like it. But down this way a reputation’s useful and necessary—and I have one.”
They anchored in the Old River Mouth landing eddy. She picked supplies and outfit for the skiffs from the lavish stock on the police-boat, including waterproof blankets, swing cots and the balloon canvas tents and flies—used when the chief went turkey-hunting or hounding a fugitive. ”

“ CHAPTER VI THE RIVER ALWAYS DOES CUT UP WITH their thirty-foot police patrol-launch speeding down the river at nearly twenty-five miles an hour, the soft-paw, James M. Caroost, and the river-girl, Columbiana Muscatine O’Bine, were fully occupied in steering it. Going at that rate, the boat slipped and slewed around, and only by quick, hard pulls on the wheel could Columbiana steer it properly. Caroost stood patiently beside her with his right wrist fastened to her left wrist by the handcuffs. ”

“ It’s a regular shack settlement on the island and a lot of shanty-boats. Nobody decent ever goes there, except—except fugitives from justice. I’d die before I’d go there—but——”
“I might—I might find somebody there who——”
“We’ve got to have another boat—two boats. Skiffs. One for you—one for me—of course! And——”
“Of course—I’ll go. You are the captain!”
“Thank you!” she replied, not without feeling.
His eyes turned to a clothing-cabinet or locker part way up the cabin at the foot of the sleeping-car bunks. He walked over and looked at the contents. ”