The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-12-23

brief fnsiliade OF snots--perhaps
i've in aIi--and the clang Of the gate
Then, like a ball rebounding, tbs cage
swung upwards again, HURTING az fall
speed.
Evidently Anisty had been received
In force which he had not bargained
for.
Maitland instinctively reversed the
lever and sent his own car upward
again, slowly. waiting for the other 10
overtake u. Peering down through
the iron iattice-work ne could indis-
tinctly observe the growing cube Of
light with dark shape lying huddled
In one corner OF the floor. A second
figure, rapidly taking shape as Anisty's.
stood by the controller, braced against
the side Of the car, one hand on tho
lever, the other poising a shining
thing, the flesh-coiored oval OF his face
turned upwards In a supposititious at.
tempt to discern the location Of tho
dark car.
Hickey by firing prematurely. lent
piled with spirit, aiming at the fash,
his bullet scattering against the back
wall Of the shaft. Hickey's next bullet
rang with bell.like note against the
metal-work. Anisty's presumably went
wide-though Maitland could have
sworn he felt the cold kiss Of It's
breath upon his cheek And the lighted
cage rocked past and up.
Maitland needed no admonition 10
/ pursue; his blood was up, his heart
singing with the lust OF the man-hunt.
Yet Anisty was rapidly leaving them.
HIS car soaring at an appalling pace.
| Towards the top he evidently made
some attempt TO slow up, but either
he was Ignorant OF the management OF
the lever, or else the thing had got
beyond control. The cage rammed
the buffers with a crash that echoed
| through the sounding halls like a peal
| Of thunder-claps: Il was instantane.
ously plunged into darkness. There
Z followed a splintering and rending
sound, and Maitland. heart in mouth,
could make out dimly a dark, falling
shadow In the further shaft. Yet ere
II had descended a score OF feet the
safety-clutch acted and. with third
tremendous jar. shaking the building.
the car halted.
| Hickey and Maitland were then some
FIVE floors below. stop 'er at 49," or.
| dered the detective. There was a lit
Of exultancy in his voice. we got
him now. all right. all right. He'll try
to get down by-There," Overhead
the crash of a gate forced open was
followed by scurry OF footsteps over
the thing. stop 'er and wen head
him of. So now-eeeasy!"
Maitland shut of the power as the
car reached the nineteenth floor
Hickey opened the gate and jumped
| out. Shut that" he commanded
sharply, as Maitland followed him.
in case he gets past u.s."
He paused a moment in thought
heavy head on bull-neck dropping for
ward as he stared toward the rear OF
the building. He was fearless and re
sourceful, for all his many deficiencies
Maitland found time, quantity enough
to regard him with detached curiosity
a rare animal. illustrating all that wa,
best and worst In his order. Endowed
with exceptional courage. his al
dress in emergencies seemed alto
gether admirable.
"Yeh guard them stairs" he decided
suddenly 'I'll run through this hall
nd see what's doing. Don't hesitate
TO shoot IL he tries to jump yeh." And
was gone. dumping briskly down the
corridor TO the rear.
CTo BE CONTINUED)