Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26

more from weakness and the STIFFNESS OF her
BODY.
"Thurley!" he said. "Thurley. In Gods
name how
ooh, get me away! Don't stop!" she in
terrupted wildly, clinging to him helplessly.
Owe walked so far-and they may be com
ing any minute! Oh, you've come-you've
come. | don't see how you ever found me!
But please don't wait-don't talk! Let's go
Just as fast as ever we CAM"
"But, Thurley. who Let me help you
in," he said to her, leading her promptly
round the car, where she climbed to the seat
beside his own. "There's no one on the
road You're cold! Good Heavens! what
you must have been through"
The car started slowly down the road.
"You' re safe he assured her, gaining in
calm as her weakness increased upon her
and the need of his strength arose. you re
excited, Thurley, naturally. God! to think
"What' that?' she interrupted wildly, her
eyes tremendously dilated and blazing in
his own.
dts another car! Oh, if it should be"
highway. Suddenly round the turn shot
big red limousine, two men on the seat in
front.
One of the men half rose by the wheel and
let out a yell like fend.
Stuyverant's car had already responded
to his urging of spark and throttle. He felt
Thurley slump in sickening fear, and under
stood the situation as no spoken word could
have told him.
He crowded on his utmost power, the
monster beneath him lurched forward like
locomotive, and a furious race began.
ch,,+.r XIII The Race
THERE was certainly less than three hun
dred yards between the cars when Jan
and Max, who had turned, five miles back,
on suspicion, to pursue the Stuyverant ma
chine, were obliged to slow for the briefest
period, where the ruts would have wrecked
their motor.
Stuyverant, glancing back at them quick
ly, was confident of winning, should his car
behave its best; but his face was grim.
"These men have no right-wouldn't
dare" he started to cry; but he realized
they would halt at nothing, as vivid con-
viction was flashed on his brain that doubt
less they had struck the blow that had all
but killed his man.
"Were gaining!" cried Thurley, her
strength and courage reasserting themselves
with wonderful residence. "Can you give
her any more:."
For his answer Stuyverant jammed the
muff1er cutout with his heel. A terrific Sc
ries of detonatons instantly followed. The
car plunged forward with newer zest and
trees shot past in blur.
In the moments advantage, caused by
the ruts that held the pursuing monster at
the rear, they nearly doubled their lead.
Then on came the giant limousine like a
fragment of meteor ripping up the road
1t was Jan driving, his rage prodigious,
his lust for murder now mania broken
from its bonds. The car was one of enor-
nous power. Its six big cylinders were pour
ing Calling fusillade on the road. 1t roared
like an engine of doom and destruction,
hurting and rocketing to overtake the fee
ing machine ahead.
Stuyverant's car was low to the ground,
like a greyhound eager for work. For some
inexplicable reason the motor, which had
baked in the night, was running like a
dream. Despite the superiority of the car
behind, it continued to creep away.
They swung about an angle in the high
way, out upon a wider pike, which led
straightway to village, small in size.
For one brief second Stuyverant dreamed
that to halt in the town and demand pro-
lection might be advisable; but he almost
as quickly abandoned the thought as an in
vitation to death. Not only was the settle
ment insignificant, and the hour too early
for it's officers to be astir in the street, but