The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-31
fus drew him upright and struck him
viciously with flint-like fist.

fus drew him upright and struck him
viciously with a flint-like fist.
Take that with the compliments
of Green Goods Pete'" breathcd Ru-
fus, as the man gurgled in his throat
and swayed over Imply
The ambassador had not been in
active. but the swaylns of the taxi
cab as it continued It's onward rush
had rendered his movements uucer-
tain. lie had braced himself for tell
ing work, just as l-urus had drawn
back his arm to pay his respects
to the other man. The elbow had
caught the ambassador in the breast
like battering ram and flung him
backwar5.
Rufus reeled to an about-face, sei2'
ed the ambassadors throat with
both hands bumped his helpless head
against the woodwork.
Respects from the Queen OF
SPAIN" clamored Rufus.
The next moment he and the am
bassqdor were hurled against one
of the doors The door yielded un-
der the shock and flew open. The
ambassador turned bacR-somer'
sault into the street. Rufus woul
have followed had not one OF his
shoulders caught against the door
casing and held him inside the pung-
ing cab.
Victory perched on the banner Of
the man from the Tin Cup ranch.
He slipped breathlessly into the seat
opposi the one on which his un
conscious enemy was lying and tried
to plan his next move.
The taXicab was still racing mad
" on. The driver, Of course, must
have been in league with the prnci
pals in that INSCRIPTIONS game, and
It seemed strane that he had not halt
e. and taken a hand in the battle
1t was strange too that he had
not stopped to pick up the am
bassador.
The mystery of the drivers action
was presently cleared away The
pounding of horses hoofs in the
rear proved that the cab was being
pursued
The cab. of course. would be
halted. That was only a question
of a very short time. The tolls
of the law would close around the
driver, and whoever nappened tc
be inside the cab.
Rufus although honest and law
abiding. had no desire 20 become
entanglcd with a pollce-court lie
had walked open.eyed into a trap
and it might easily be inferred
that he was a party to the crime.
Lifting himself to the open door
he hung there and watched hi
chance to make leap and eiIec
his escape. Then he thought of tn
Peachblow Vase. The man in the ca
had had it in his possession, ant
if Rufus could secure it and re
turn it to the dealer in antique
his own innocence would be mat'
manifest.
Turning back. he braced himseI
on the heaving floor and gropet
around the limp form ON the seat
His fingers encountered the vase
1t was tucked snugly away in al
angle of the cushions-a position
that had guarded it from injury.
AS he drew the vase from The
cushions, something dropped to th'
floor. Rufus slowed the pottery reli'
away in his breast pocket and thei
s.ooped TO see what had falleen. !
the package of bank notes. Tit
bills were still intact, held tirml.
by the paper band that was pinne'
around them.
At that precise moment the tax
cab wbirled around a corner. Rufu
was hurled bodily into the opei
door: there he was held for a
instant, by bis squirming arms an
shoulders, only to roll finally fror
the step and drop to the pave
ment.
He shot into the curb with fore
that almost dislocated his limbs
and while he lay there mounte
officer galloped past, led by doze
feet by one of the bicycle sQua'
Rufus pulled himself togetheI
reached for his hat and got Il
lamely. The taxicab had vanished