The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-03-29

| got out and went INTO the hotei.
| told my man to wait. for | thought she
would return TO her car soon.
| But, few minutes after she had
gone into the hotel, the lady's machine
| front seat
| couldn't understand this move,
and | sat puzzled as to which course
| to pursue, for | wanted to find out
| more about her Finally | decided
| that 1t would be better to follow the
auto and get my information from the
chauffeur instead of going into the
hotel and inquiring about her,
By the time had made up my mind
and given the order to the driver the
other machine was block away.
We shortened the distance, how
ever, and were only half block be-
hind when they came to sudden stop
near a large dry goods store.
There they stayed but a moment
while the stout dark driver jumped
out and started slowly up the street.
Then the machine pulled on past
the long row of autos waiting in front
of the store. | was undecided wheth-
er to follow the fair young man in the
machine or get out and catch up with
the darker man.
Hurriedly making up my mind, ] Or
dered my driver to wait and | started
off slowly after the man, who had
gotten out of the auto we had been
following
He walked around the block and |
strolled along behind him. trying to
get up nerve enough to talk to him.
Then he stopped at the corner and
began walking slowly along the line
of waiting autos. His interest in the
machines was rather an idle one and
a glance was all that he bestowed on
most of them.
Suddenly, however, he paused In
front of a big French car.
Just then the handsome woman
tripped from the entrance of the
store.
started back in surprise, for we
had left her at the hotel and ! could
not account for her sudden appear
ance here.
Quite evidently she was in hurry,
but as | stepped back she threw a
quick glance at me, seemed for a mo-
ment to hesitate, as though remem-
bering my face, and then brushed
past me and entered the car.
with uact,,ro tbat ,,,n ~,
Its quickness, the dark mechanician
that | had been following pulled a
fumbling hand from his pocket, and
in it was a spark plug. Quickly fit
ting 1t into the machine he jumped
around 20 the crank
II was the work Of a second.
| smiled with satisfaction. | flushed
with victory.
STEPPING up to the car dotted my
hat to the lady whose face | remem-
bered and addressed her Before
had opened my lips she shrank to the
further side of the seat and dropped a
fair hand, holding handkerchief,
over the outside door.
Just a moment. Mrs lie Mont" I
smiled. you will pardon me, but I
must arrest you"
At the words she flung her head
back and glared at me dcfant!y, as
though she were going to try to bluff
Ii out and make me think | had been
mistaken in her face. But, no, /
knew 1t too well to- be bothered with
any uncertainty.
X happen to know of your connec-
ton with this puz?ling series of an.
tomobile thefts." | continued quickly.
Il have followed you and learned how
you worked your game. 1t is very
pretty. | don't remember having seen
anything so bold for some time"
Her face had gone white. Before
could continue whirr of levers and
wheels confused me- Somebody JOS
tied hard against me-
Losing my balance. grabbed for
support, and as | endeavored to right
myself, | saw the dark chauseur, who
had given me the shove that unbal-
anced me, help my fair prisoner as
she leaped from the car I was stand
ing against into TIE one that was
flying past at high eceed.
In the car that Ne had leaped into
| saw the face of the younger chauf.
four, whom she haS met in the drug
store. Evidently he hal been waiting
in the row behind for just such
mlshap. and had come 10 her aid when
he saw the signal of her handkerchief
iSttering over the outer door.
The dark driver had disappeared
when | looked around.
Jumping 10 the front seat of the
car by which 1 stood | found that he
had forgotten To remove the spark
plug. The engine he had already
started and il was the work of a sec.
ond for me ia throw on speed and
start IN pursuit of the speeding auto. [!
It was a short chase. followed
closely and kept my gun ready for
action. They turned into a drive be
side an elegant apartment and when !
I reached the rear | found that they
had already entered the automobile
elevator at the rear of the bnii!inr
Then | knew how they had spirited
away the stolen cars so successfully.
In ten minutes had a squad of po-