The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-02-16

would do their best to avoid brosl
or parley along the way.
The car was now almost upon him,
and the horn beloved frantically.
He dropped the lantern and flung the
gun to his shoulder. When the car
was barely five yards away he fired
at the tire nearest him and jumped
aside. The car rushed by; he emp.
tied the other barrel into the rear
tire, broke open the gun and reloaded
swiftly.
And then a sound. flung back to
him by the wind. struck him into
immobility. The sound was scream
such as never issued from the lungs
of man.
Good Lord!" he groaned; 1.-The
wrong car! It's woman!"
As he started after the car with
staring eyeballs, he saw that his
shots had taken effect. Both tires
on the right side Of the car were use.
less. The rushing speed slackened.
The car plowed along the edge ct
deep ditch until Porterheld's soul
died within him. Then 1t came back
into the track again, rushed through
a drift, and bounced over smooth
space. Another drift reduced its
speed to a crawl; third stopped 1t
ae8d. the hattening tires spinning
around impotently.
AS Porterfield approached, the en-
CINE was stopped. A young woman
stepped out of the car. She did not
seem frightened despite that scream;
but the poise of her head, as re-
vealed by the moonlight. somehow
caused Porterfield dim foreboding.
His uneasy feeling was promptly
justified. The wind was not more
cutting than the accents of the girl
as she greeted him:
"Well, Mr.. Porterfleld, you seem
to have added highway robbery and
automobile wrecking to your other
accomplishments"
"Elsie!" gasped the unhappy Por-
terrified.
miss Corning to you," she cor.
rected, with a manner coldly merci-
less. Have you any explanation to
make for rendering this road as I'm.
safe as western Indian trail, and
for destroying two tires?"
They had once been engaged; and
it was not through the desire of
Porterfield that the engagement had
been broken.
you see, Elsie," he began earn
estly.
Miss Corning" interrupted the
girl.
He bowed and continued: 1.-The
bank at Bellevue has been robbed.
The sheriff telephoned me to look
out for the burglars. who are in a
white car, equipped with top, wind
shield and four lights. Your car
answered the description"
"And you wrecked it without in
vestigating."
There was no time. And you
would not STOP"
Il recognized you," acknowledged
the girl; "but didn't think your
message was important. And l was
I AMIN hurry. My maid Is very
sick. The telephone lines are down;
SO l started to drive to Doctor
Brant's at Lebanon"
my runabout only needs crank
Ing said Porterf1eld. taking an i'm
pulsive step forward. II would be
only too glad to drive you over there.
That would atone in part for my
stupidity"
Il could not think of discommod-
ing you," returned the girl, ictly.
Besides, you must stay here and
shoot up the burglars car"
I'm case of sickness or Distress"
replied Porterfeld loftily, my duty
is clear. The burglars can go hang.
II they were coming, they'd have been
here long ago. I'll have that car out
In fifty"
They made the journey to Lebanon
in constrained silence. Porterfield
reused the physician, secured his
promise to follow Immediately in his
own car, and then started back for
the Corning home.
When the car whirled into the
Corning driveway, the moon had hid
den itself behind film of snow
clouds. There were lights in the fine
ola mouse, but NOBODY was In sight.
Obsessed by purpose, the wildness
OF which made his teeth chatter,
Porterfeld shut off. As the car camo
to stop by the wide porch he turned
deliberately, took Elsie Corning in
his arms and kissed her.
There followed a silence that stun.
ned-a silence so profound that
things seemed to rock with 1t. Por-
terrified did not dare to break 1t.
Under the circumstances, Miss
Corning had to speak first. And she
did, finally, in soft, little voice,
from which all the chill of their first
encounter had melted: How cold
your nose is, Toni"
The telephone was ringing as Por-
terrified stepped into his own home