The San Francisco call., 1910-04-10
The San Francisco Sunday Gail
w O l. F

Lets forage" suggested Van Ness, standing up
"How your legs now
Never mind 1t can't be long now before some
one happens along Meanwhile to bear out this up
TO date Robinson Crusoe stunt, I'll do explor-
ing. Keep the FIRE going Who knows but what Ill
come across haunch of venison hung up by some
merry fellows of the greenwood fraternity
He marched off parallel with the road among the
trees Carter wondered at his high spirits He
seemed to have regained full confidence and with 1t
his polished side had come uPPermost Apparently
he had no hesitation in leaving Carter at liberty to
question the child. Quite as apparently he had no
fear of the result when the some one ne talked OF
should happen along 1t was clear that he believed
he had control of the situation. And Carter sus
pectcd that the reason lay IN the glittering object
he had brought from the wreck during the night
For the Virginian had witnessed his departure and
his return Probably his plan to commander
Bnt if was time for action When Van Ness had
passed from sight Carter hurried out to his machine
again troublesome part of his work clearing
the debris that strewed the road behind the raCer,
but it was accomplished finally and he put his shoul
der TO the crumpled front Slowly the ruin yielded.
moving backward an inch or two lie rested
moment. then lurched at 1t again. struggling tor
start Once more it backed away and he did not
pause until he had pushed it clear.
The jammed and twisted remains OF the steering
apparatus would allow but little motion either way
and he did better IN making his turn by wrench1ng
the forward running gear about. The maneuver took
some time, since 1t was necessary to push and back
repeatedly AT length he had the machine around.
Ahead of him. over the way he had come, lay the
short level stretch which he had worked up speed
the day before.
"'Oppy take me-
The child had crawled from her warm and
stood with outstretched arms He fastened to
her with anxious glance up the road My like
you, oppy. she assured him again, he picked her
up My hungy girl she went on, smiling bravey,
but with the quiver of a little lip
Il know you're hungry, dear, he said gently. but
we'll have nice breakfast pretty Now won't
4 you tell me your name? Margaret-what' Margaret
Mandewell?"
Z aYeth Margaret Man1el" she answered decidedly
He carried her his shorn racer and made another
for her the splintered PLATFORM comforting
her as best he could Suddenly there shout
: from up the mountain side followed by the sounds
4 Of a body crashing down among the bushes. With
8 his bit of cord the Virginlan swiftly lashed short,
stout branch the broken stubs of the steering
wheel Then, pushing at the he stTove for head
3 perately heavy and slow With sraining muscles he
toiled Inch by inch he urged his tTayesty Of ma
pause correct the direction.
AT the end of the short level stretch before him the
long six mile descent began with gentle incline. He
had reached the break OF this first dip when Van Ness
= jumped into the road at the OF the wreck with
6 startled cry Carter, using every fraction OF
ond and every OF power threw himself against
the rear for few steps, then sprang on and scram-
sufficient now to hold the slow advance, and BY tug
ging his handle he could the course. His
mprovised coaster under way.
Making the Run
Standing and looking back over his shoulder he
saw Van Ness pounding along in pursuit with
gait The mans face was flushed and distorted with
rage The Virgnian knew that if the other held
his purpose he would catch the machine before the
sharper incline reached, He prepared for hand
grips for in this decisive moment cold calculation
we'll as human impulse told him that the prize
worth the game Margaret playing with her
: 'poon' again. happy IN the motion of the machine
e Suddenly the pursuer hampered by the pain OF his
shoulder and ankle or finding another way more CON
c genial to his temper. stopped short and dropped
d knee in the mud, not 20 feet away, The sun
flashed keenly on steel Carter caught up the child
n and bundled her front of him. where he could pro-
It her. Van Ness funbling his weapon with
II his left hand while he held it in his limp right
IT, Il A. g.
:, covered by the numbering, hamstrung gradu-
ally increasing pace, but it seemed to Carter it
e tugging dead weight holding him back. Van
Ness still busy with his cartridges without
Il glance for the fugitives intent solely upon filling
the magazine.
: The machine seemed to pause at the top of the
t, sleeper slope that dipped away turn below In
that instant Carter sank the flooring. crouching
the little girl and holding up hand in impoten
S that the really fire. but the criminal
k aiming steadily The crack of the revolver rang
e sharply and there dull spa against the shat
tered base of the tonneau. Carter understood now.
Van Ness taking his chances of njuring the girl
c him. through fear for Margaret, aside
the bank 1t meant another decision, but Carter did
c not falter. He held grimly.
Another bullet whistled close above the Virginan
He could feel the pull OF the dip and he cuched the
! steering handle tighter. The child frightened and
$ uncomfortable began to cry. Again and again the
revolver rang of the missiles clipping hole
in battered mud guard. Then. furiousy that
his quarry was escaping and that he had made tac-
teal error, Van Ness stopped firing and holding his
d last two shots, started a
: But the disabled car, like a staggering thorough
! bred sent to the track for race, gather
d ing speed. Dumping and hammerng, with rough
/ halt IN every revolution of her wheels, she crept
S down the hill Within 20 feet Van Ness ceased to
gain within the next 20 he falling behind Car
ter heard last shout and two rapid reports mo-
ment later he was negotiating the last turn-and
S safety.
!, 1t was wild ride The road ran over levels,
It slight rises and long descents with many curve and
S twist Always the jotng. protesting increased
its pace, and Carter. clinging the rough guiding
handle swung precariousy along the changing
It lodging disaster every The voice OF the
= tortured. wrecked machine gibberIng scream