The Washington herald., 1907-12-18
CHAPTER XLI-Continued.

CHAPTER XLI-Continued.
Where are we going?" said Grinding
as the long. undulating west-countr,
road unrolled itself before them indef
nitely.
To Dalmelington," said the inspector
That was where our man Fox has hearC
of them, We shall have other new!
there. But I don't understand either
TO the South there is only the broker
galloway country, no big towns, one sin
gle thread Of railroad cutting crossways-
the shOrt-sea TO Ireland I'm one direction
and in the other an eight-hours' jOurne,
to London by the fastest train. No,
is quite iucomprehensible"
When I was I'm the Office" interrupted
Phil with certain apology in his voice
Incubus & Co. had often little steamer.
and sailing craft pottering about be-
tween Port Mary and the Cumberland
coast-besides Balcary. Palnackie. anC
the mouth of the NTH Sometimes ever
tugs were sent there TO be ready for the
big colliers-to tug them out mean"
The Inspector glanced sideways at him
and then brought down his hand heavily
on his thigh.
believe our young friend has itr
be said. MIR. Grinding. you don't hap.
pen TO know what Incubus boats were
at liberty during the last few days?"
Grinding shook his head II was not
in his department
only the Office knew that-for these
last few months. since Mr.. Phil. there
left us. ! may say that I'm such things
the office was Kahn, together with his
partner. Casimir"
The officer looked across at Phil.
Il suppose you could offer no guess? ??
he said.
Il am afraid not" said Phil: 1T would
be tuE-almost certainly-a cargoboat
would be too slow Since the firm got
the big German naval contract. you see
they never knew where the Kiei fleet
would want 10 coal SO Mr.. Kahn had
whole fleet Of tugs with powerful en-
gines TO take out the big loads TO the
rendezvous. Doubtless he ordered round
one of these"
"A tug-yes, meditated the officer:
that explains, partly at least-little port.
little ships. a tug would get him away
10 the cOntinent-with ali his stun
Something little and packed with engines.
1t would be Ike a racing car, Well. we
shall get some more information at DaI-
Wellington"
"How's that?" queried Grinding.
The inspector cast a look OF pity at
him.
''Of course Fox and Frost would send
ali they knew 10 the police station there.
II viii be waiting for US"
After that they were wholly silent. The
car throbbed and Jared. but did not
stop any more. till the long street of
the little town drew about them. like an
Inverness cape. and they stopped in front
Of the County Constabulary Station.
Presently Inspector Henderson came
cut. looking considerably disturbed in
mind.
Fox and Frost are two fools," he
said, tearing the message he had received
into very small pieces. They think that
coming here Is only a blind. and that
the cars have turned and gone back by
night along the hard Ayr road No one
here mas seen them. They will wire il
anything is found. There is no news.
Nothing for il but TO SIT and suck ones
thumbS till we hear something"
Il beg your pardon. Inspector" said
Phil; but I think we should go on.
That no one has seen them proves moth
ing, for the Dalmellington folk are
good sleepers'
'Eh?" cried the detective: What's that?
Have you got an idea2 out with Il. I
never yet knew anybody's idea that
wasn't, at least, worth considering. And
you, young man, seem to be of a supe-
TiOr order"
This was, indeed, praise from Sir
Hubert Stanley.
Il don't believe they turned back at
ALL said Phil; If they had. they would
both have got into the big Mercedes. No;
they have gone on. know these North
Galloway roads-what isn't hard pebble
and sand Is rut and mud We shall pick
up their tracks where they have passed
before we have gone five miles"
The automobile sped on. The chauffeur
had renewed his stock Of fuel at Dali
Wellington, and soon the long valley Of
the Doom was laid out smoothly behind
them, the landscape passing right and
left over their shoulders as the sea IS
divided before the rush Of a fast de-
stroyer. There was a singing Of the
wind in their cars when the reached tha
summit, and the car launched itself
downward toward the Ken
TIL now they had seen no traces of the
fugitives. and Inspector Henderson be-
gan TO be restless A few minutes more
and he would have given the order to
turn back. But at that moment Phil
poiated out something which cut long
curves Into the soft turf Of the moorslde.
There they arei" he cried, zone car.
at least. and badly driven"
They stopped and got out Grinding
recognized in a moment the diamond
criss-crossings OF the tires OF the smaller
car-that In which James Kahn had es-
capped But OF the other there was no
sign on the well-crowned. hard-surfaced
road The tires OF the Mercedes would
have left parallel ridges, and been easily
distinguishable from the other. Here.
however, not a pebble was lifted. Moth
ing gave evidence OF anything uncOm-
mon except those occasional curves cut
in the smooth turf of the wayside.
1T looks as If he had been hard press
ed. by something or some one" pondered
the inspector. Perhaps. after all Fox
and Frost nave been working 'on their
own " He spoke the last phrase with
some bitterness. Working on their
own" meant I'm the force. for their own
honor and glory" Inspector Henderson
held 1t to be the blight and bane of all
good police wOrk-the sin objectionable.
They passed through Carsphairn. Yes.
they were on the track. They sang the
long-resounding song Of speed Zone sin
gle rising note). long-sustained and good
20 hear, down the green valley, and by
the ripping water side. They turned