Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-14


through the little window at the back
and saw my squirting friend i'll con
versation with another man, no doubt
the second of the gang.
The cab passed through knights
bridge and toward Kensington. and
then l turned the driver through the
park for Bayswater. Presently | was
aware of q rafting behind and looking
out through my spy hole again perceiv-
ed second cab close upon us.
every WELL" said l to myself. you
shall have your wish. A stern chase is
a long chase"
l fancy my cabman must have
thought me near upon a lunatic.
chopped and changed his directions
dozen times, and during the next two
hours we visited quite half of the me-
tropolis.
You will doubtless dub me fool in
that l didn't forthwith take the shelter
of the law and put myself under safe
custody But l had two reasons
against that-the one, that / had sort
of informal bargain with Sercombe not
to bring the authorities into this feud.
but to fight out private war: the 9th
er, that | would see these scoundrels
in the Internal regions before | sur
rendered to them. And when you come
to think of it, to call in the police for
help in the distinctly illegal job which
occupied me would hardly be IN taste.
So there was nothing for it but the
road, and the road it was for the next
two hours and more. By that time my
cab horse, fine outstanding chestnut.
had fairly run himself down, and so
hoped had my pursuers' cab. But of
this could not be certain, and, in any
case, 1t was not their object to provoke
an open fracas. AS l imagined, they
merely sought to run me to earth some
where And it was obvious by now
that could not drive about in cabs all
night.
Somewhere between i and 2 found
myself again in Kensington, or, rather,
in that region of respectable, desolate
and gloomy houses lying about Glon
cester road The chase had to end
somehow. We drove up road dimly
lighted and narrow. suppose my cab
man must have been almost as weary
as I, and probably more sleepy. AT
any rate, had ceased to guide him for
some time. He had taken the initiative
himself, constituting himself, l con
ceive, the guardian of this harmless lu-
In oil re-. MI In,
that we had entered a cul-desac. The
situation pricked my resolution to the
proper point Of action. As 1t fell out,
flare of gas streamed from the fan
lights in large and commodious house
near the bottom Of the road, seeming
to show that the inmates had not yet
retired, and, acting on my resolution
in a second, stopped the man and
jumped out before the door. AS did
SO the second cab also came to pause.
My cab turned slowly round and stop
ped abreast of his fellow. l would
swear saw the two figures alight
God knows what the cabmen made Of
it all. l pulled at the bell, but for a
time could get no answer. But at last,
and in response to louder peal than
usual, the door was opened, and there
confronted me tall, slight man some
thing near my own age in evening
dress.
"Who the devil may you be?" says
he, surveying me from top to toe with
puzzled look.
'Sir," said I, ''this is no place upon
your doorstep to explain to you. But
am in immediate need Of kindly
hand, and If you will have the goodness
to bear with me and allow me two
minutes in your private room make
no doubt that can satisfy you
Faith" said he, smiling rather fool
ishly, 'if 1t is hand you want, you
must needs look for one steadier than
nine"
And, true enough, there he was sway
ing somewhat unsteadily upon his legs
and presenting me face flushed with
the use Of liquor. But this was no
moment for parleying, and l pressed
my point promptly.
Then, pray, let me shut the door for
you," said l, stepping in forthwith.
And without more ado closed the
great door with bang.
He led the way docilely enough into
a neighboring room and, turning up the
gas, faced me. This is all very WELL"
says he more soberly "But have still
to learn who the devil you may be"
My name, sir, is immaterial," re-
piled. But 1t is your services want
in certain crisis, and if you be gen
tleman, as see you are, 1 shall have
no doubt Of the ISSUE
He stared at me for some moments
in silence. pray state your case" he
said politely and sticking the stump of
a cigar in his mouth, but supporting
himself upon the table.
you ask me my name?" answered.
''Well, there is no concealment would
practice on you, and so it is Greatorex,
for what use you may care to make of
It,"
Mines Winthrop" he explained =
Lord Winthrop. You may have heard
IF me recently - correspondent in di-
vorce case, you know"
1.-The situation is easily settled" said
[. II have something Of value upon
ne, and I have been chased by two
.ascals in cab. The light was burn
ing in your house. and so I took the
liberty Of asking your assistance to
>~odo <l,or,, |