New-York tribune., 1907-10-13

he emerged into a broader street when automO-
bile went chuggrng past HIM, ana theh, Just aS II
came beneath the rays of light, face leaned
TO the window an arm extended evidently tor
the purpose of shaking the ash from cigar and
SegO Shrank back In the ShIverng white rays ne
recognized as one of the passengers in the machine
less parsonage than the President, and with MN
another man whom he believed to be the oecre-
tary of War.
From down the road came the sound of another
motor, which in whizzed rapidly along, taking
the same direction the previous car. SelgO was
not certain. but conjectured that within 1t were
other officials, and, being man OF action, unheSi-
tatngly dashed after it, neared the closed tonneau,
and after breathess succeeded in swinging
himself the springs behind maintaining his place
by clutchng the overhang OF the tenders
Away through the outskirts he rode hearing
nothing from within and IN constant danger OF falling
off his precarous perch The gained speed until
his peril great for TO be thrown would be TO re-
CcIvc certain injury. His fingers strained CON
vulsivcy in their effort to hold on, and once ne was
almost cast off by a sharp dcClIvlty the road
Now he could only trust to chance that the automO-
bile which he rode following that OF the
President but mile after mile reeled OFT with
out sight of the other machine on either hand, he
felt assured that the party all one. lie leaned
out of the great rubber tires and peered
ahead TO where and then he could catch the
glow OF a red back lamp, and was content. HIS Jour
ney was without discomfort, as the dust OF the
road Whrlcd upward and into his nOstrlS IN sitting
volume, until he begrimed and almost stranged;
but he chung on grIIny waiting tor the mysterious
trip 10 end.
The big car stopped so suddenly that he had scant
time To loosen his hold fall OFT the dirt and roll
hastily into Il ditch by the roadside where he might
be hidden from sight TO his surprise the vehicle
turned through a gateway into field, where he
heard the slow crunchng of the great wheels over
the stubblc He raised himself to his knees, and
then IN a crouchng posture essayed to follow 1t IN
ITS Wandcrngs, when he arrested by a sharp
challenge, betraying the fact that although the
visitors had been expected no chance was being
taken of entertaining others Again he threw HIM
sell ON his face, waiting patiently for other sounds.
The great flat before him showed diTnly IN Its yellow
baroness, Stret ching down TO where the broad
pm of river cleaned duly. and he could discern
other lights than those of the motor which he had
been an undiscovered passenger These suddenly
vanished and ne surnlscd that the chautfcurS had
eNtnguHhed them preparatory 70 leaving the ears.
lie could trace out no other shapes IN the gloom.
Not even building raised its dark bulk IN the night.
lie felt the necessity OF advancing farther
root by foot he wrlgglcd forward. the spIntcrS of
the field Imhcddlng themselves IN his flesh unhecded
stralnng every nerve TO avoid making a noise, and
listening at intervals in the hope of catching some
word OF conversation which might give him a clue To
the cause of this nocturnal mission From a short
distance ahead came the mutterings of low pitched
voices. and then period OF silence He was past
the machines now, still crawling carefully. Once
more he paused, when he heard a Suleu mufled
crash from the direction OF the water, and in an
agony OF surprise and rose 10 his knees for
getting that he might be observed. His hands IN
terIockcd themselves IN stress as he watched in
brcathlcss suspense for a moment and then almost
moaning IN despair, he crept rapidly back 10 the
road, went cautiously down II for a hundred wards
and took madly to his heels with fright
All caution was thrown aside. and aS he ran like