The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21

till glance met glance IN the ending
and his racing pulses frightened with
sheer delight Of the humid happiness
IN her giistening eyes. Dorothy.
child. don't worry so. No harm shall
come TO you It's all working out
all working out right. Only have
little faith In me, and I'll make every
thing work out right, Dorothy"
Gently she freed her fingers. 1T
wasn't, she told him IN voice that
quivered between laughter and tears.
i wasn't worrying. I was
You wouldn't understand. Don't be
afraid I shall break down or-or any
thing"
Il shan't." he reassured her. II
know you're not that sort. Besides.
you'd have no excuse. Were moving
along famously. That cabby knows
his business"
In fact. that gentleman WIS minute
by minute demonstrating his peculiar
fitness for the task he had so cheer
rully undertaken. The superior horse
manship OF the London hackney cab
man needs no exploitation, and he in
whose hands rested the fate OF the
Calendar treasure was peer OF his com
peers. He was instant TO advantage
himself OF every opening to forward
ais plant craft. quick to fOresee the
fortunes Of the way and govern him
self accordingly
Estimating with practiced eye the
precise moment when the police super
visor OF traffic at the junction OF Par
uament and Bridge streets would see
ft to declare a temporary blockade,
ne so managed that his was the last
vehicle to pass ere the official wand
to ignore which involves a forfeited
license. was lifted; and indeed so
close was his calculation that he es-
capped only with scOwI and word or
warning from the bobby. A matter OF
no Importance whatever, since his end
was gained and the pursuing cab had
been shut of by the blockade.
In Calendars driver, however, he
had an adversary OF abilities by no
means to be despised. Precisely how
the man contrived It IS a question:
that he made detour by way OF
Derby street is not improbable, un-
pleasant as IL may have been for
Stryker and Calendar to find them
selves in such close proximity to the
yard" At all events, he evaded the
block. and hardly had the chase swung
across Bridge street than the pursuer
was nimbly gathering in its wake.
Past the houses OF parliament.
through Old Palace yard, with the
abbey on their left, they swung away
into Abingdon street whence suddenly
they dived into the maze OF backways.
great and mean. which lies to the
south OF Victoria Doubling and
twisting. now this way. now that, the
driver fooled them through the in
tricate heart OF this labyrinth, leading
the pursuers a dance that Kirkwood
thought calculated to dishearten and
shake or the pursuit IN the first five
minutes. Yet always. peering back
through the little peephole. he saw
Calendars cab pelting doggedly IN
their rear-a hundred yards behind, no
more. no less. hanging on with in
domitable grit and determination.
BY degrees they drew westward,
threading Pimlico. into Chelsea-once
dashing briefly down the Grosvenor
road. the Thames a tawny food be-
yond the river wall
Children cheered them on and po-
licemen turned TO stare, doubling
whether they should interfere.
Minutes 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.
In the leading cab there were few
words spoken. Kirkwood and Dorothy
alike sat spellbound with the fascina-
tion OF the game; II IT Is cOnceivabls
that the fox enjoys his part IN the
days sport, then they were enjoying
themselves. Now one spoke, now an
other-chiefy IN the clipped phraseol-
ogy or excitement AS:
We're gaining?"
'Yes-think So"
Or, Wen tire them outT'
Surely"
They can't catch US. can they.
Philip"
Never in the world"
But he spoke with a confidence that
he himself did not feel. for hope as he
would he could never see that the dis
H1Sw
terially lessened or increased. Their
horses seemed most evenly matched.
The sun was very low behind the
houses of the Surrey side when Kirk
wood became aware that their horse
was tagging. though Gas comparison
determined) no more so than the one
behind.
In grave concern the young man
raised his hand. thrusting open the trap
In the roof Immediately the square
Of darkling sky was eclipsed 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 push
ing your horse like this
I'm sure of>it. sir. E's a good 'oss.
e is. but e carn't keep goin' for hever.
you know. sir
II know You've done very well;
you've done your best"
Very good. sir. The Pless, you said,
sir? Right"
The trap closed.
Two blocks farther and their pace
had so sensibly moderated that Kirk
wood was genuinely alarmed. The pur-
suing cabby was lashing his animal
without mercy. while 1T aren't no use
my wippin' I'm. SIR dropped through
the trap. "'E's doing orl e can"
'I understand"
Despondent recklessness frightened
Kirkwoods lips and kindled an un-
pleasant light in his eyes. He touched
his side pocket; Calendars revolver was
still there. Dorothy should
win away clear, if-if he swung for 1t
He bent forward with the travelling
bag in his hands.
What are you going to dor The
girls voice was very tremulOus-
stand a chance. take a losing haz-
ard Can you run? You're not too
tired7
II can run-perhaps not far--a little
way. at least"
And will you do as I sayT'