The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-08

you get out in the woods here to the east and break down you'n walk to the next place. where you can find a horse"
 Trafford came to the edge of the platform and appealed to one of the men in the car:
 Are you going to be able to. make it?' He spoke loudly and as if S trifie anxious. Hold on a minute. cap tain." he warned the conductor. who was about to signal the train to start. we may go with you after all What do you say?" he demanded again. sharply. turning to the man in the motorcar-
 What we've agreed to do we'll do.'' answered the man. sullenly. eff you don't go IT; hold you to your bar gain: I've done my part"
 "Oh,' said the conductor. shifting to the side of the men he counted his countrymen. "Ive no doubt it'n be all right. I really don't know the roads. I merely warned you on gen. eral principles"
 Well. if you'd tend to your own business and leave us to ours you'd get to Tring on time. maybe. and that's more'n you've done in the last six months" growled the man in the car.
 That appeared to break the friendly feeling that had promised to establish itself. and Trafford and Grimbleshaw climbed into the car to the noise of the departing train. whose engine might be fancied as snorting in sym pathyi with the indignation of the con- ductor. KIRK. "rsn't this a little conspicuous7" asked Grimbleshaw. as they started puffing into the sudden depth of trees.
 "Of course it, is." said Trafford. but what are you going to- do? It's our only chance. and. of course. a slim one. St. Martins owns an auto. and fast one. too. with a chauffeur who knows every rock and rut ire the road to the American creek"
 On they rushed. over roads hard frozen. but as yet without snow enough to impede. and Grimbleshaw felt his heart beating fast at the prospect be- fore them. while Trafford sat appar- eRtly unmoved. and the. Canadian of ficer beside the chauffeur maintained silence. unbroken save once when he pointed to the right and said:
 "st- Martins lies over there ten miles"
 Five miles farther on they turned sharply to the right through thick pines and hemlocks and ran on for some eight or ten miles. when they came suddenly on a cross track. or road. running northwest by southeast. The machine was brought to a sudden halt and Trarcrd and the officer leap ed to the ground. the one going up the road for a rod or two. and the other down. In aT moment they were back and into the car. The officer spoke in low tone to the chauffeur. who turn ed into the way to the left and began ! to put on speed. Trafford leaned over and spoke in Grimbleshaw's ear:
 '-An auto has gone south within fif- teen minutes. There's only one in this section" ef# By this the trees were rushing past them with exhilarating rapidity. Talk ing was impossible. for the track was rough and narrow. and they were con- | tfnually bounding back and forth. so that they were compelled to brace themselves to secure any semblance of comfort. At the summit of a rise | chug-chug'' of the flying machine in advance. and the chauffeur put on more speed But the fugitives had heard them and their machine was flying also
 Down a long descent they rolled. turned a sharp corner and heard the breathing of a standing motor. The chauffeur gave a quick reversal of the l lever. and by barely a rod escaped running hard on to car that stood crossways of the road. Not a man was to be seen. but beyond a fringe | of evergreens they heard voices oi men in sharp dispute a
 Have your pistols ready the off, ficer called. curtly. leaping from the car and leading the way.
 Trafford and Grimbleshaw followed And hurrying through the brush saw standing on the opposite side of the marrow creek three men. struggling for the possession of a dress-suit case. A -l tall. heavy man. with a full beard white and flowing. had a firm grasI of one handle. while a young man broad shouldered but short. had holt of the other. The third man wa dancing up and down and shriekinf at the top of his voice:
 Les piastre: deux tousand piastre l6acreT
 At that there broke in the heavs voice of the old man:
 "Tn be d-d if I dol It's a hold upI There's five hundred and that'i all you geti''
 The Canadian danced the harder screaming again:
 "Deux tousandt Deux tousand, Me An talk you valeese you no gif eet neat ce pas?'
 The Canadian officer motioned then
 to stop.
 I've the old man covered" he said
 giancing at his pistol els that you man?'
 A searching look came over Traf
 ford's face: he leaned forward an'
 peered through the early dusk.
 "Yes.'' he said at last. that's mI H. w.aNe