Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-23


Two men whom 1t carried were Jus,
entering the hotel Something IA the
sight OF the long low "racer" reminded
Harry--of wbatf His eye traced SIS
polished lines, noting Its cunning mech
anism. its build for silent speed. with
the eager lighting OF a connoisseur He
took step toward IL. oblivious 70 al
about him.
He did not note that men were gath
ering. that the nearest saloon was
emptying Of its occupants. Nor did he
see girl on horseback. with a tiny
child before her on the saddle. who
refined up sharply opposite. .
The rider was Jessica. the child an
ecstatic five-year-old she had picked On
on the fringe OF the town to canter In
with her hands gripping the pom mel OF
the saddle. She saw Harry's position
Instantly and guessed II perilous. What
Gid the men mean TO dor She leaned
forward. a swift apprehension In her
face
Harry came back suddenly to a real
ization OF bis surroundings He looked
about him. startled. his cheek darken-
Tightening. he saw danger In the low
eriog faces. and the old lust Of daring
leaped up instantly TO grapr'e with the
rejuvenated character.
Devlin's voice came over the heads
Of the CROWD as, burly and shirt sleeved.
he STROBE across the street:
Hand over the dust you've stolen
before you are tarred and feathered,
Hugh Stiresr'
Barry looked at him. surprised. his
mind instantly recurring to the placard
he had SEEN Here was a tangible &C
cusstion.
Il have stolen nothing" he respond
ed quietly.
where did he get what he just sold
meY' The jewelers. sour query rose
behind him from the doorway.
We'll find that outT' was the rough
rejoinder.
In face OF nis threatening peril Jes-
sica forgot all else-the FESTIVE horse,
the child She sprang to the ground
her face panied and indignant, and
started 20 run across the street. But.
with cry OF dismay. she turned back.
The horse had caught sight Of the red
automobile and. snorting and wild
eyed had swung Into the roadway.
IT'S Devlin's kidr' some one cried
oct, and Devlln. turning. went sudden
~ ashen. The baby was the one soft
spot in his ruf1anly heart. lie sprang
toward the animal. but the movement
and the hands clutching at the bride
sent IL TO a leaping terror. In another
instant 1t had broken through the ring
Of bystanders and. frenzied ut its free
dom, dashed down the long. level
street with the child clineSag TO the
saddle pommel.
IL was all the work OF a moment
one Of panic and confusion. through
which rang Jessica's scream OF re-
morse and fright Torpor held the
crowd-al save one. whose action fol-
lowed the scream as leap follows the
spur In a single step Harry gained
the automobile. With an instantane-
Gus movement he pushed the lever
down and jerked the throttle wide.
The machine bounded into its pace.
the people rolling back before It. and.
gathering Roadway, darted after the
runs way.
The spectators stood staring. He'll
never catch him" said Michael Hal
loran. who had Joined the crowd. Flu
neral Holow's only mile away"
With others he hurried TO the hotel
balcony, where he could watch the ex-
citing race. Jessica stood stock still.
as blanched as Devlin, wringing her
hands.
With the first bound OF the car under
him. as the crowd was snatched behind.
a weird, exultant thrill shot through
Harry's every nerve. Each bolt and
bar he knew as one would tell his fin
gers Somewhere. at some time. he
had known such hight-through mel
low sunlight with the air singing past.
Where? When?
Not for the fraction OF second.
however. did his gaze waver. He
knew that the fat on which the town
was built fell away In a hollow ravine
10 the southward-he could see IL from
the cabin doorway stretch Of break
neck road only a mile ahead Could
those frenzied hooss in time? The ar
row or the indicator stole forward on
the dial
Far behind as the crowd watched a
cry rose from the hotel balcony. 1t
was Barney McGinn. the freighter,
with n glass at his eye. Hes gain
mgr he shouted. "He has almost
overtaken the horser'
The horses first fury OF speed was
firing The steel steed was creeping
closer. A thunder OF hoofs In pursuit
would have maddened the flying ami
NAL, but the gliding thing that was
now so close 20 him came on with
noiseless swiftness. Harry had re-
served with the nicely OF a practiced
hand a last increment OF speed With
the front wheels az the horses flank.
be drew suddenly on this. AS the car
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