The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09

home as if the Morava and the hllls clad with new-fallen snow were so dis tant, that l could never breathe that cool, clear breath again. So l rose ana went out of church, as one might in my country, meaning no offense. Only the man lived in another world, and, per haps, only read one-half of his Bihle- not the same half as our Pope Nicholas Kirin who preached to us. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth the very night before he led us down to make an end of the last Turkish colony on the Timokl
 Next day I heard that the congrega- ton had taken it i'll, and called me heathenl So little did they understand Yet how could they? I did not under stand them-and they had never heard tell of Katerina, my little sister, nor felt about one finger the tender clutch of her little hand. Bah, at times even 1 was a weaklingi
 But not. at others-I will relate.
 q unscrewed and laid aside the steer ing wheel of the big Mercedes. It was beyond him to repair it, and 1 hid the gearing well. The other machine l left all ready. and on the leather cushion or the seat with some things of my own, as If put there in preparedness for flight, l left the 'ordonannce," which l had re- ceived from the committee in Salonika I ing it. The language and writing would catch his eye
 Then I rode peacefully off on my cycle a good English-made machine that was sorry to leave behind to rust in thicket But I had to give him time to be gone
 Tt happened even as I had foreseen. James Kahn had taught me well. He had shown me how to see his wicked ness. and how to forestall it. He had gone away in great hurry.
 "On his journey, or flight-more prop erly Ooh, 1 know-I had thought of alD- there had come to Kahn the fear of death. owing to misdeeds in early life in his own native country It is nothing to die-oh nothing at all. only to cease to live-a twinge like the drawing of tooth, perhaps, and then the night sweep ing up with wings of crape-nothing more. That does not hurt. Therefore why should I wish merely to kill James Kahn.
 "Ah, no-but to know ones self con demned to certain death, to watch, to wait not to know where or when it will strike-that is to die really. That brings the sweat out on a strong mans brow
 Nevertheless I wasted no time, but put the gear on the automobile in it's place. For l was very expert with my hands-far more so than the man Kahn. was not afraid that he would get away Only that perhaps he should find cour- age to kill himself too soon-before could straighten accounts with him. took in store of petroi and started. He had told me the way. It was a splendid ly dry night, and there were only the hundred miles or so before me which, had I wished, I could soon have burned under the wheels of my big Mercedes.
 '1 had a map, also, but did not want AN A.I. 1.4~ ~kna meeting to be in a place where there would be only he and I-neither man nor beast nor place of refuge-only above the God of Vengeance, perhaps not so ill- content with my work as the Kirktown minister would have us believe. Tor even the most holy says Pope Nicholas, must work my instruments And a Mauser is an instrument as good as an- other.
 'As I say, I lung back on my chase. fearful that the very sound of my Mer- cedes behind might frighten him and lead him off the track. It would have spoiled my intentions badly, if for in- stance, he had taken refuge in some town, or even in an inn. He knew my mission. Fear sat deadly upon him. His back was cold, and his hands dripped. I could tell as much by his driving For being at leisure, I could get off and look at his tracks. Only going up the hills did he steady his going. Elsewhere he was so afraid of making shipwreck of his machine and being left there, wound ed and helpless perhaps, to wait for my coming.
 "Ah, had he only known, this last of the Negotin, how careful I was of him that is, till the appointed time. Not hastily would I waste him or make an end foolishly. Had he not led the laugh ter that day when they drew circle about our home?
 ''It was at certain little village that runs down a hill and then up again, clean, whitewashed and but for the hills about. Dutch-like, that he made the turn I had been waiting for. The name of it is on the map Thereafter I knew that he was at my mercy. So I let him pass well into the country and then put the Mercedes to her best pace, and from that moment overhauled him yard by yard. He heard behind the storming rush of the big car Presently he came into sight driving wildi-, as 1 had foreseen his head being turned over his shoulder half of the time.
 'I waved my hand at him and shouted to encourage him, as if it had been a race-I with money upon him. But in his blood there was the memory of old deeds condemning him-or, at least, leaving him to my discretion. And he looked for no
 
 had justly to expect, though not ex- actly as he anticipated it, nor for the same reasons.
 'I ran the Mercedes at his, as if to pass, and I could see his head already ducked low to avoid the bullet Then I maneuvered to take him behind at full speed. in which case I would have thrown him high in the air, even If I had not exploded both cars. But the Mercedes ran little risk because of it's great size and weight. So pleased was I with the play that the solitary house called Clatteringshaws came too soon in sight. He looked anxiously at the dyke at the little garden, at the shark backs of purplish<gray rock. But no one came out at the noise of our racing wheels. With a yell I rushed him, and in a mo- ment we were past and out on the moor again.
 Yes, I played with him as cat does with mouse, now surging along as if to end him, and anon drawing slowly off. But mile or two further there is a curious dip in the road, down which we raced. A tall obelisk doubtless set there in memory of some great fighter of times long past-perhaps the Black George of Galloway-crowned a little heather mound to the right.
 'I could see the yellow French car slacken speed as it took the hill oppo- site. On the contrary the weight of my Mercedes carried her to the top with un- abated force. He needed fuel too. and was beginning to know it. Before me I saw the wide country spread to a hori- zon of low whale-backed ridges. with the rocks l have spoken of (called clints) all about-a dreary place, but fit for my work. There was also long ditch showing black among the turfy heather,