The Washington times., 1909-05-20

train which had just left Madrid
I'll station would be the height Of
folly, il was so plainly the OBJ
viots thing TO do. He realized that
when he had left CJhanton in the only
automobile in town the sheriff would
Immediately teleplsone to have that
train watched.
lie also figured that after doing this
the officers OF the Law would at once
get 8 team and como from Chanton
after him as fast as horsehcsh could
carry them. so he knew that il he
kept a watch on the road he would
soon see n vehicle rush past him in
the direction Of the station he had Just
left
Counting on tine slow-acting minds of
the sheriff and lGis deputies, unfamiliar
with criminals wfsh brains. Jim decided
that to return TO Chsnton would bn the
very last thing they would expect him
to do.
But. above all. another influence dom
mated him in formi ug his plan.
When II had first occurred to him,
there had come a compelling knowledge
that he was needed at the Gordon house
Gradually. all through the excitement
OF his escape. this knowledge had
grown stronger, and when at last he
had left the note on the station plat
<orm- which he hoped would throw the
sheriS of the track. he was so conscious
Of She calling FOR him from a heart
there ten miles away that to do aught
but return would have been impossible.
See Grace and answer her cali he
would. Then probably take the old
clothes he had asked Mrs. Graham TO
leave I'm the woodshed and start on
his vanderinEs, clad not as the descrip-
tons Of him would read, but in the old
rags Of a tramp.
And the end of those wanderinxs
vas always the same: Grace's baby
in his arms
From this meditation Jim was sud
denly startled back to an apprec.s
ton Of things about him by the sight
% the disabled automobile, the own
er Of which had taken Editor Bsnlev's
car back TO Chsnton.
Il must be on the watch FOR the
returning machine" he reminded him
self. "as well as tho sher7frs team"
SO he kept well to the side of the road
and on the alert for the headlights of
the car and the sound Of horses
hoofs.
The latter came first. and the warn
III
en- opportunity TO find a safe retreat
In the darkness.
There, hidden well in a cIump Of
bushes, he heard the beat OF fast run
ming animals feet approach and rush
by him in the direction OF the sta
: ton
"All right. until they come back"
be rnuttered. as he again sought the
highway and resumed his journey TO-
ward Chanton.
But IL was not long before She
Nights of Editor Banley's car shonel
ehesd of him, and now. owing to
the power OF those lights. Alton knew
that he would have to hide himself
more securely.
But the automobile passed him rap
idly, its occupants ignorant Of the
ncarness of him whom they sought.
Cnce again Jim was on his way,
anxious now to have the return Jour
ney Of automobile and team over.
He dare not take TO tho fields. as
ne was ignorant Of the exact direc-
ton I'm which Chanton lay.
The automobile was the first 20 re-
turn and Jim caught sight Of its lights
fr one Of his glances over his shoul-
der made for that purpose. II was ap-
preaching very slowly, for what rea-
son Jim could but surmise.
At last. however, fl passed him.
aud he could see that Banley was
looking intently about him. as though
suspectIng that Alton might have Sc