The newspaper., 1909-03-26

him in the entry hall
I'm going back to the Bartholdi,
O'Hagan. for the night You may bring
me my letters and any messages in the
morning. l should like you to sleep in
the fiat tonight and answer any tele-
phone calls"
"Yiss, Misther Maitland, sor"
Have the police gone. O'Hagan?"
There's whole bottle full yet. sor."
you've not been drinking. trust?"
The Irishman shufiled. "Shure, sor,
an wud that be hosphitible?"
Laughing. Maitland bade him good
night and left the house. turning west
to gain Fifth avenue. walking slowly
because he was a little tired. and en-
joying the rather unusual experience
of being abroad at that hour without
company. The sky seemed cleaner
than ordinarily. the city quieter than
ever he had known 1t, and in the air
was a sweet smell reminiscent OF the
country yside-reminding one unhappi-
iy cf the previous night when one had
gone whistling to ones destiny along
Z perfumed country road.
Coed 'eavings, Mister Maitland, sir!
1t carn't be youl"
Maitland looked up. bewildered for
the instant. The voice tha: hailed him
out of the sky was not unfamiliar.
A cab that he had waited on the
corner to let pass. was reined back
suddenly. The driver leaned down
from the box and in a thunderstruck
tone advertised his stupefaction.
1T aren't in nature, sir-if yer'll
pardon my mentionin' 1t. But ere
leaves you not ten minutes ago at the
st. Luke building and finds yer ere.
when you 'aven't 'ad time
Maitland woke up. What's that?"
he questioned. sharply. You left me
where ten minutes"
st. Luke buildin'. corner Broadway
an"
Il know it," excited. but"
'-'avin' took yer there with the
young lady"
Young LADY,"
that comes outer the 'ouse with
yer. sir
The devil" Maitland hesitated no
longer; his foot was on the step as he
spoke. Drive me there at once. and
drive for all you're worth" he cried.
IF there's an ounce OF speed In that
plug OF yours and you don't get It
out"
Never fear. sir, Wen mako 1t in
nvs minutes,"
''It'll be worth your while
"Right-O,"
Maitland dropped into his seat.
A.
persd: and then. savageiy: In the
power OF that Infamous scoundrel-,"
And felt OF the revolver in his pocket.
The cab had been headed north: the
st. Luke rears its massive bulk south
OF Twenty second street. The driver
expertly swung his vehicle almost on
dead center. simultaneously II ca
reened with the impact OF a heavy
bulk landing upon the step and falling
in a heap on the deck.
My word. what's that" came from
aloft. Maitland was altogether too
startled to speak.
The heap sat up. resolving itself
into the semblance of n man: who
spoke In decisive tones:
III yeh're goin' there. I'm goin' with
yeh. r yeh don't go-see7"
The sleuth," gasped Maitland. as
founded
"Ah. cut that. can't yeh7" Hickey
got on all fours. found his cigar. stuck
II in his mouth. and fell into place at
Maitland's side.
Hickey. ! mean. But how"
IF yeh're Maitland. nd Anisty's at
the st. Luke buildln. tell that fool up
there to drive'"
Maitland had no need to lift the
trap: the cabby had already done
that
"All right" the young man called.
IT'S Detective Hickey. Drive on"
The lash leaped out over the roof
cr-rack,-and the horse. presumably
convinced that no speed other than a
dead-run would ever again be de
manded OF II. tore frantically down the
avenue. the hanson rocking like a top
sail-schooner in heavy gale.
Maitland and the detective were bat
tered against the side and back OF the
vehicle and slammed against one an
other with painful regularity. Under
such circumstances speech was difii-
cult: yet they managed to exchange a
few sentences.
'Yeh gottuh gum"
"Anisty's-two good cartridges"
Jus as well I'm along. guess
AVI In n -.