Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-20

reappearing to the view of Timmins
second later headed toward the house.
Evidently the man was bewildered or
else he would not have failed to OBJ
serve the by no means inconspicuous
figure Of Mrs. Timmins looming large
in the kitchen door.
''Stop i'm. Maggie! Stop I'M?
shouted Timmins, abandoning all Sc
crecy now.
Mrs. Timmins was not one TO wait
for explanations at such time. lin
minis wanted somebody stopped, and
stopped he should be. With surpris-
ing agility she got her huge bulk In
motion and moved imposingiy and at
right angles upon the refugee. AS
she did this Timmins, dragging the
calf and followed by Mr.. Hewington,
closed in on the other side. But the
bessie was tired of the game or else he
was winded. He no longer bounded
merrily upon his wabbly legs, now
ahead, now just behind Timmins. He
stuck his forefeet straight out and
sawed balkily at the lead rope
This left a gap of some ten yards In
the line of offense, and through 1t the
hunted man bolted bravely, the tails
of his frock coat huttering haunting
salute as he spurted toward freedom.
The sedate Eppings was just in time
to view the escape with open mouth
and staring eyes.
"Tyke after i'm. you blooming
chumpI" screamed the Disguised Tim
minis. IVY don't you tyke after
limp"
Thus exhorted, the butler did break
into stiff trot, which was so patiently
ineffective that Timmins might have
laughed had the occasion been less
serious. AS it was. he only gasped out
an exclamation of disapproval. threw
the calf's lead rope to Mr.. Hewington,
with the suggestion, Here. you 'old
i'm, governor" and darted after his
prisoner.
Do you wonder, then. at the amaze
ment of the Countess Vecchi when
into the calm of the sunset hour burst
this animated procession-frst, man
swinging a silk hat in his right hand
and painting as he ran; next Tim
Minis, his elbows close to his sides
and his jaw thrust out in approved
Marathon style; third, Mrs. Timmins,
very red Of face and her ample chest
billowing up and down like a stormy
sea, but getting over the ground quite
rapidly; fourth, Eppings, his solemn
eyes almost popping out Of his head,
and at the rear her father, vainly try
ing to urge the reluctant calf into a
lfvelier gait?
The race between Timmins and his
elusive prisoner was progressing very
prettily. They were keeping to the
driveway now, and the smooth macad-
am offered fine footing. At once there
came to the ears of all concerned the
sharp, imperiouS honk-honk of an au-
tomobile horn.
The next instant big red car whirl-
ed in through the gates and at sight
of the advancing procession in the
roadway was brought to a sudden
stop From the back seat of the tom
was the most dramatic and opportune
entrance he had ever made in all his
career.
The painting fugitive halted, stared
apprehensively at the Cherub, then
cast a hurried look over his shoulder
at Timmins. Quickly he made his
choice. Turning like fash, he dodg-
ed Timmins neatly. Another moment
and he had scircled around Mrs Tim
Minis.
Perhaps he would have been dou-
bling and lodging yet had there net
occurred a diversion. The calf in its
excitement had begun running in a
circle and had wound Mr.. Hewington
up with the rope so that he could
move neither hands nor feet. Mr..
Hewington was loudly calling for Ep
pings.
Just then, however. 1t was Eppings
turn to try stopping the prisoner. He
was already jumping from one side Of
the road to the other in order to con-
fuse the enemy when Mr.. Hewing
toms cries for assistance distracted
his attention from the game. Years
of training showed there. Eppings
abandoned his post and started for his
master. A yell of rage from Timmins