Middletown transcript., 1908-08-29
A Chase Across the Square


the drawing room a puff of air
struck his face and he saw the
curtain at one of the side windows
waving. The window was wide
open.
Hello! he calculated. This
looks like the real thing. Has
he gone, or where is he?
A glance down the long draw
ing room showed that there was
no one there. The door into til
library was at the end of the
room. 1t was closed. Lane
walked down to it, and, holding
the pistol leveled in his right
hand, threw the door open and
took a swift look around, the aim
of his pistol following the direc-
ton Of his eyes.
No one here, he muttered. He
has got clean away, unless.
Jack! Oh, Jack! came a fright
ened cry from the second story.
He IS up here. Oh!
Almost with the cry came a
swift rush down the front stairs,
and a man in evening clothes,
with light overcoat flying wide
open, dashed across the drawing
room straight at the open window.
Lane fired at the flying figure,
but he might as well have aimed
at q comet. The man was gone
like a flash of light.
Lanes blood was up with the
firing of the shot. He rushed to
the window, and firing again as
the burglar disappeared around
the corner, he jumped after him
but tripped on the window ledge
and landed in a heap. Gathering
himself up he dashed to the cor
ner and almost into the arms of
a man who came running across
the street.
Hello, Lane! What are you
doing out here in pajamas firing
your pistol like a wild west show!
What is up?
A burglar! that gentleman bur.
glar who has been robbing US
all, painted Lane. Didn't you
see him, Jepson?
I saw a fellow in a light-colored
overcoat run around the corner
of your house, going forty miles
an hour, just as I heard Your
last shot. Is that your man?
Yes! exclaimed Lane. Which
way did he go?
He ran diagonally across the
square, answered Jepson. l
haven't gun.
YCu have a stout stick there
though. I'll shoot him and you
beat him over the head. We
have got to get that man, | tell
you. And Lane all afire now
with, the man-hunting instinct.
raced across the square with the
unwilling Jepson in his wake.
| Hold on, gasped Jepson at
length, holding on his sides. What
is the good of this. At the rate
that fellow was going, he is q
mile off by now.
No, he isn't, cried Lane over
his shoulder. He will not dare to
run for. 1t is too conspicuous.
As soon as he gets a couple of
blocks away, and thinks he has
given me the slip, his game will
be to stop running and play the
role of a respectable citizen walk
ing quietly home.
Well, hold on then, painted Jep-
son. This pace is killing me. If
he is still running we have no
show, and if he is walking we
can catch him without breaking
our necks.
All right, said Lane, slowing
down.
Suddenly he seized Jepson by
the arm. There he is I! he cried
excitedly. See! under that street
lamp about two blocks ahead. |
know that coat. He is walking
slowly. I told you so! Come
on! Come on! Can't you see
him?
| In a few moments more they
were about opposite their man.
That is the fellow! whispered
Lane excitedly. Now close in on
him.
AS Lane spoke the man turned
aud saw them advancing on him.
| Halt there! or I'll shoot you!
cried Lane, rushing at him and
waving his pistol.
The man wavered a moment,
then started to run, but the tickle
fate that tripped Lane at the
window now squared accounts
by sending the fleeing man head.
long over a hydrant that stuck
~ Al n