The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-16
THE AUTOMOBILE
THAT PLAYED SHERIFF
By FRANK CHISWICk.

1 chine back into Main street, and thew
rushed toward the bank.
Something has happened" whisper
| ed Mrs. Stevens. clutching the side OF
the runabout with trembling hands.
And your father told me he should be
working late this evening"
1t was some time before they could
understand what really had happened:
but at last Mrs. Stevens was assisted
through the crush into the directors
room, where her husband, white-faced.
| trembling and furious, and disjointedlv
telling the story of having been boun6
| and gagged by robbers half an hour
before. They had fled with the
| money of the bank, and had half an
! hours start on the sheriff. How could
they possibly be caught now?
Mrs. Stevens sat down beside her ex-
cited husband and her soothing in
fiuence was felt by everyone in the
room. But Thad had stopped not a
second after learning that his father
was practically uninjured.
Which way had the sheriff gone?
And did he have a clue? A clue, YES.
and he had gone by the birmingham
road. But what chance had he, even
If he was on the trail of the robbers?
Thad looked lovingly at his run
about. There was a chance and a good
one. Sheriff Moore had been accom-
panied by three deputies, and they had
ten minutes the start of Thad He
sprang into his machine, whirled IL
around and sent 1t darling toward the
Tyringham road. Half mile, straight
as an arrow it flew. a mile, two miles.
and Thad saw horsemen ahead, sill
houetted against the rising moonlight
Two minutes more and he was among
them.
Mr.. Moore, If those men have half
an hours start of you you'll never
make 1t with those horses. MY ma
chine can overtake any horsefesh
around here. Will you take your
chances with me and let your men fol-
low on their horses?"
The sheriff and his deputies had
halted at Thad's unexpected propo-
sition. There was no time to lose,
Moore led his horse to the nearest
fence post and tied it, then sprang to
Thad's side. Two revolvers were in
his hands, and he turned to his men.
Make the best time you cam
The men nodded silently and dashed
their horses, but the runabout shot
out from their midst like a flash OF
lightning. Sheriff Moore tossed his
hat to the bottom of the machine.
clutched his revolvers and leaned for
ward. Thad, with his fathers white
face ever before his eyes, threw his
weight to the lever. but kept a cool
hand on the steering rod. On, on in
the silvery moonlight they dashed. Up.
up the birmingham hill they spun and
looking down from it's crest, they saw
team plunging forward with
wagon motion that indicated reckless
driving. Down the incline plunged
the runabout, ever gaining on the
team.
us it?" asked Thad. His gaze had
fallen on the revolvers and the posi-
bilities of the situation dawned upon
him.
We'll known in a minute-at this
rate answered Moore grimly.
Another HILL up which the swayng
buggy was dragged ruthlessly.
None but desperate men would drive
like that. We've got 'em right"
Still the runabout gained. A man
stood up in the buggy. The tearing
little crimson automobile behind him
evidently struck him as being some
thing more than a mere pleasure par
ty, for the driver dashed his horses I'M
mercifully. Moore steadied himself
with one hand, with with the other
fired after the fleeing men. The answer
came quick and sharp. Ping! Pingi
Ping! The dashboard of Thad's below
ed runabout was pierced. He stop
ped the machine with jerk that al
most unseated the sheriff They were
on the top of the hill, and the team
was racing towards it's foot. The
sheriff swore and reached for the lever,
but Thad was firm.
Don't you touch it. There's a bet
ter way than yours. Get out. I'm go
ing to wreck 'em.
In his excitement he had strength
greater than Moore's, and he pushed
the official into the road. Then the
machine seemd to leap over the crest
of the hill on the trail of the robbers.
Moore, shouting like a mailman, plung-
ed after it. He saw the gains which
the automobile was making on the
runaways. He saw a slender figure
climbing over the back of the runabout,
swing second above the dust and
then, drop to the earth. Not until then
died he realize Thads plan. Straight
as an arrow after the robbers dashed
the machine. A fusilade of shots,
then screams and a crash! The thun-
der of horses hoofs on the bridge be-
yond and silence.
The robbers were found lying in the
road, and taken back, bandaged and
cursing, to Templeton, and the remains
of the runabout and the buggy were
left on the roadside, a Mecca for Gu
rious throngs, for many days to come.
When the directors of the First Ma
tional Bank of Templeton held their
November meeting it was voted unani-
mously that Thad Stevens should be
presented with a runabout not pur-
chased at bargain figures. And strange
TO say when Mr.. Stevens heard the
price paid for it, he offered no demur,
and was even seen riding about in 1t,
an expression of pardonable pride
Frightening his Jsua1lv severa co1In-