The Washington herald., 1914-09-13
W-ANTICLIMAX.


Alan came to himself supported by Barcus-his
senses still reeling from the conclusion Of that
thunderbolt which he had so unwittngly loosed-
the cloud OF sulphurous smoke not yet dissipated
by the wind.
Judith lay at his feet, stunned; and round about
other figures OF men insensibe, II not, for all he
could say. dead.
And then Barcus was hustIing him unceremo-
niously down the wharf
Come! Come" he rallied Alan. Pull your
self together and keep a stiff upper lip. Rose is
waiting in the car, and If you don't want to be
arrested, you'll stir your stUmps my son! That
explosion is going to bring the worthy burghers OF
New Bedford buzztng round our ears like q swarm
Of hornets"
His prediction was justified even before It was
made: already the nearby dwellings were vomiting
halfclothed humanity: already a score of people
we're galloping down toward the head Of the wharf;
and in their number policeman appeared as If
by magic.
And while the hestated, Alan grabbed him
by the shoulder, threw him bodily from the car,
dropped into his seat cried a warning to Rose,
and threw in the clutch. The machine responded
without jar: they were hundred feet distant
from the scene of the accident before Alan was
fairly settled in his place.
Yet his congratulations were premature they
not ten minutes out OF the environs OF the
city when Rose left her seat and knelt behind
his, to communicate the intelligence that they
already being pursued.
heavy touring car, she said 1t was, driven
by a man. a woman IN the seat by his side
Judith the latter. the an old employe Of her
fathers by the name Of Marrophat
Marrophat!
Alan remembered that one
He could only trust In his skill as driver:
and skill is the lesser factor in such race
AS they approached at express speed the stretch
where the road paralleled the tracks Alan sought
to hug the left hand side Of the road, but in vain
He heard the far hoot-toot Of freight loco
string. There was a crash, roar There
was nothing-obIivion
The car had turned turtle, pinning Rose and
Alan beneath it. .
"Alan!" she gasped. You are not killed."
"No-not even much hurt, fancy" he replied.
"And you?"
Not much"
The deep-throated roar OF the locomotive bel.
lowing danger senced him. He closed his eyes
Then abruptly the weight was lifted from his
chest He saw man dragging Rose from under
the machine, and saw that the man Mario
phat. And almost Immediately someone lifted his
head and shoulders, caught him with two hands
beneath his arm pits and drew him clear of the
machine
And the face Of his rescuer was the face OF
Judith Trine
We'll, II you must know-it's true I can't bring
myself to kill you l would to God l could. But l
I can't. For all that you shall die-I
could not save you II would! And this promise
you: you shall never see Rose again before you
die!"
And while he stood gaping she swung from
him and ran, quickly covering the little distance
between him and the car.
As she Jumped into this and dropped down upon
the seat beside her half-conscious sister, Mario
phat swung the car away.
It vanished in dust-cloud a throng of rail-
road employees surrounded and assailed him with
clamorous questions.
END OF CRACK o. DOOM.
ITO be continued.)