Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-10-19
}y Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright. 1908. by the Bobbs-r1errin Co.

traffic. y rrarticnllv inl'regnnble
press of vehicles closed in behind them
ere Calendars conveyance could fol
low out of the side street
That the same conditions. but slight
ly modified. hemmed them In ahead
went for nothing in Kirkwood's esti-
nation.
Good driver" he approved heartily.
Hes got head on his shoulders"
! The girl found her voice. How"
/ she demanded in breath. face blank
with consternation-"how did you
dare?"
"Dare?" he echoed exultantly, and
in his veins excitement was running
like liquid fire. what wouldn't 1
dare for you, Dorothy?"
What have you not?" she amended
softly, adding. with a shade Of timidity.
"Philip'-
The long lashes swept up from her
cheeks, like clouds revealing stars, I'M
masking eyes radiant and brave to
meet his own. Then they fell, even
as her lips dropped with disappoint-
ment. And she sighed, for he was
f
ardor of the chase, he was deaf and
blind to all else.
"Tve got a scheme! Kirkwood de-
clared so explosively that she caught
her breath with the surprise of it.
There's the Pless. They know me
there, and my credits good. When
we shake them off we can have the
cabby take us to the hotel. I'll regis
ter and borrow from the management
enough to pay our way to Chiltern
and the tolls for cable to New York.
I've friend or two over home who
wouldn't let me want for few miser-
able pounds. So you see." he eX-
planned boyishly. "we're at the end Of
our troubles already!"
She said something inaudible, hold
ing her face averted. He bent nearer
to her, wondering. 81 didn't under
stand" he suggested.
Still looking from him. II said you
were very good to me-" she said in a
quavering whisper.
.Dorothy" Without his knowledge
or intention before the fact. as in
stinctively as he made use of her given
name intimately, his strong fingers
dropped and closed upon the little
hand that lay beside him. What Is
the matter, dear?" He leaned still
farther forward to peer into her face
till glance met glance in the ending
and his racing pulses frightened with
sheer delight of the humid happiness
in her glistening eyes. Dorothy, child,
don't worry so. No harm shall come
to you. It's all working out-all work
ing out right. Only have little faith
, in me. and I'll make everything work
out right, Dorothy"
Gently she freed her fingers. II
e wasn't" she told him in voice that
e quivered between laughter and tears
: II wasn't worrying. was-yor
t wouldn't understand. Don't be afraid
: shall break down or-or anything"
] II shan't" he treasured her. 81
t know you're not that sort. Besides
t you'd have no excuse. We're moving
: along famously. That cabby knows
: his business"
i Past the houses of parliament
e 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
S ways, great and mean, which lies tt
r the south of Victoria. Doubling ant
e twisting, now this way. now that, the
e driver fooled them through the intri
S cate heart of this labyrinth. leading
e the pursuers a dance that Kirkwoot
IL thought calculated to diShearten an(
r shake off the pursuit in the first five
h minutes. Yet always. peering bacl
e through the little peephole, he saw Cal
y endar's cab pelting doggedly in thei
s rear-a hundred yards behind NJ
s. more, no less hanging on with indon
l. liable grit and determination.
Children cheered them on, and pc
r licemen turned to stare, doubling
ID whether they should interfere. Min
g, utes rolled into tens, measuring on
ID an hour. and still they hammered on
Ut hunted and hunters playing their gam
le of hare and hounds through the high
IT ways and byways Of those staid ant
aged quarters.
The sun was very low behind th
- houses Of the Surrey side when Kirl
- wood became aware that their hors
" y was tagging, though. as compariso
" determined, no more 50 than the or
= behind.
In grave concern, the young ma
rs raised his hand, thrustlng open IL
ne trap in the roof. Immediately IL
X square of darkling sky was eclipse
oit by the cabby's face.
OF "Yessir?"
'e- You had better drive as directly
40 you can to the Hotel Pless,' Kirkwot
called up. Pm afraid it's no u
~ pushing your horse like this"
Pm sure Of it, sir. Els good 'os
". e is, but e carnt keep goin' forheve
ou you know. sir"
Despondent recklessness tighten
Kirkwoods lips and kindled an u
1t pleasant light in his eyes. He touch
le- his side pocket. Calendars revolv
ut was still there. Dorothy should w
ur away clear Tiff he swung for it.
He bent forward with the traveli
ef- bag in his hands.
lis We'll have to drop off in a minu
I'd. The horse won't last. They're In
ne same box. III undertake to stand Z
I'm off for bit. You take the bag a
run for it, Just as soon as l can CO
ip- vince them I'll follow, but if Their
any delay you call the first cab you {
ol. and drive to the Pless. III join y
tly there"
led ua stood I'm surveying tho neil