id not wish
suspicion directed against the motor-boat.

The policeman re-entered the station, eager to avail himself of the
information which Maku was now disposed to give him.

Orme turned to the life-saver. "The Jap is lying," he said.

"Think so?"

"Of course. If he understands English so well, he certainly knows how to
make himself understood in it. His story of the bicycle is preposterous."

"But what then?"

"Doesn't it occur to you that perhaps the Jap himself is the robber? His
intended victim may have got the better of him."

"Yes," said the young man doubtfully, "but the fellow ran."

"That would be natural. Doubtless he didn't want any notoriety. It's
possible that he thought he had killed his assailant, and had an
unpleasant vision of being detained in the local jail until the affair
could be cleared up."

The life-saver looked at Orme searchingly.

"That sounds pretty straight," he said at last. "I guess you know what
you are talking about."

"Perhaps I do," said Orme quietly. "In any event I'd like to see who's in
that boat out there."

"There isn't a boat nearer than Chicago that could catch her. They have
run her several miles out into the lake before turning south, or she
would have been pretty close to Chicago already. She's going fast."

The roar of the motor was indeed becoming a far-off sound.

"Why not telephone the Chicago police to intercept her?"

"There's no evidence against her," replied Orme; "only surmises."

"I know, but----"

"And, as I suggested, whoever was attacked by that Jap in there may not
want notoriety."

Suddenly the distant explosions stopped--began again--stopped. Several
times they were renewed at short intervals--"puh-puh-puh"----"puh-puh"
----"puh-puh-puh-puh"--then they ceased altogether.

"Hello!" exclaimed the life-saver. "They've broken down."

He picked up a pair of binoculars which had been lying on the veranda
near him, and scanned the surface of the lake.

"Make her out?" queried Orme.

"No, she's too small, and too far off." He handed the night-glass to
Orme, who in turn searched the water vainly.

"Whose boat is that moored to the breakwater?" asked Orme, lowering the
glass.

"Belongs to a man here in town."

"Would he rent it?"

"No. But he lets us run it once in a while. We keep an eye on it for
him."

Orme took out his watch. "It's almost twelve," he said. "You'll be
relieved in a few moments. Do you suppose I could persuade y