Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-10-07

don't worry so. No harm shall come
to you. It's all working out-all work
Ing out right. Only have a little faith
in me. and I'll make everything work
out right, Dorothy"
Gently she freed her fingers. 81
wasn't" she told him in a voice that
quivered between laughter and tears
81 wasn't worrying. l was-you
wouldn't understand. Don't be afraid
1 shall break down or-or anything."
Il shan't." he treasured her. 81
know you're not that sort. Besides,
you'd have no excuse We're moving
along famously. That cabby knows
his business"
Past the houses of parliament,
through Old Palace yard, With the alb
hey on their left, they swung away
into Abingdon street. whence sudden
ly they dived into the maze Of back
ways, great and mean, which lies to
the south of Victoria. Doubling and
twisting, now this way, now that, the
driver fooled them through the intri-
cate heart of this labyrinth, leading
the pursuers a dance that Kirkwood
thought calculated to dishearten and
shake off the pursuit in the first five
minutes. Yet always, peering back
through the little peephole. he saw Cal
endar's cab pelting doggedly in their
rear-a hundred yards behind, no
more, no less-hanging On with indom-
liable grit and determination.
Children cheered them on, and po-
licemen turned to stare, doubling
whether they should interfere. Min
utes rolled into tens, measuring out
an hour, and still they hammered on,
hunted and hunters playing their game
of hare and hounds through the high
ways and byways of those staid and
aged quarters.
The sur was very low behind the
touses of the Surrey side when Kirk.
wood became aware that their horse
was tlagging. though, as comparison
determined. no more so than the one
behind.
In grave concern. the young man
raised his hand. t.llrusting open the
trap in the roof. Immediately the
square of darkling sky was e"clipscd
by the cabby's face.
"Yessir?'
You had better drive as directly as
you can to the Hotel pless," Kirkwood
called up. I'm afraid it's no use
pushing Your horse like this"
I'm sure of it, sir. 'E's IL good 'oss
e is, but e carn't keep goin' forhcver
you know. sir"
Despondent reclllessness ti@htenel
KirkWood's lips and kindled an un
pleasant light in his eyes. He touched
his side pocket. Calendars revolver
was still there. Dorothy should viii
away clear Tiff he swung for it.
He bent forward With the travelin:
bag in his hands.
We have to drop off in Il minute
The horse Won't last. They're in tn
same box. Ill undertake to stand 'er
off for Il bit. You take the bag AN,
run for it. Just as soon as l can COZ
vince them I'll follow, but if there
any delay you call the first cab you Sc
and drive to the Pless. I'll join yol
there"
He stood up, surveying the neigh
borhood. Behind him the girl liftet
her voice in protest.
mo, Philip, no! l won't leave you"
He shook his head in silent contra
d%iction, frowning, but not frownin,
because of the girls mutiny. He wa
a little puzzled by a vague impression
The hanson was %traversing a stree
In Old Brompton, a quaint, prim by
way lined with dwellings %singularl,
old worldish even for London. n
seemed to know it subjectively, t,
have retained a memory Of it from an
other existence.
Calendars cab was drawing peril
ously near, and he was debatin,
whether or not they should alight a
once and try to make a better pac
afoot when the decision was takel
wholly out Of his hands.
Blindly staggering on, wilted will
WEAKNESS. the horse stumbled in tn,
shafts and plunged forward on it
knees. Quick as the driver was to pull
it up, with a cruel jerk of the bits
kirkwood was caught unprepared
Lurclling against the dashboard, h.
lost his footing, grasped frantically a
the unstable air and went over. bring
ing up in a sitting position in the gut
ter with a solid shock that Jared hi
very teeth.
For Il moment dazed, he sat ther,
blinking. By the time he got to hi
feet the girl stood beside him, ques
tioning him With keen solicitude.
NO." he gasped, mot hurt-onl,
surprised. Wait"
Their cab had come to a complet,
%standstill. Calendars was no MOI,
than twenty yards behind, and a
kirkwood caught sight of him the ia
adventurer was in the act of liftin.
himself ponderously out of the seat.
1ncontinently the young man turned
to the girl and forced the travelling bas
into her hands.
run for it" be begged her. "Don'
stop to argue. You p~romised-run
I'll come.
"Philip! she pleaded.