Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-24

In the succeeding Quarter-hour the
calmness of fatalism became Alan's.
They were biding their time for some
secret and fatal purpose. The blow
was predestined to fall, but cruelty de-
ferred.
For his own part, he drove like an
exceptionally cunning madman
And then, quite clearly. he recog-
nized the time and the place and the
character OF the road that lay befors
him as the car sped like a dragon-fiJ
down slight grade.
From the bottom of the grade It
swung away in a wide, graceful curve,
bordered for some distance by railroad
tracks on slightly lc- er level.
He had guessed t0e flendish plan Of
the other driver only too truly.
AS they approached at expresg
speed the stretch where the road par
alleled the tracks Alan sought to hug
the left-hand side Of the road, but In
vain.
Roaring, with its muller cut out, the
pursuing car swept up and baffled him,
bringing its right forward wheel up
beside the left rear wheel of his car,
then more slowly forging UP until,
with its weight, bulk and superior
power, it forced him inch by inch to
the right, toward the tracks, until his
right-hand wheels left the road and
ran on uneven turf, until the left-hand
wheels as we'll lost grip on the road
metal, until the car began to dip on
the slope to the tracks.
He heard the far hoot-toot Of a
freight locomotive
There followed a maniac moment,
when the world was upside down
Alan's car slipped and skidded, swung
sideways with frightful momentum
toward the railroad tracks, caught it's
wheels against the ties, and !.
The sun swung in the heavens like q
ball on string. There was crash, a
roar There was nothing OBJ
livion
The car had turned turtle. pinning
Rose and Alan beneath it.
"Alan!" she gasped you are not
killedp
"No-not even much hurt, / fancy"
he replied And you?"
mot much"
The deep-throated roar Of the loco
motive believing danger silenced him.
He closed his eyes.
Then abruptly the weight was lifted
from his chest. He saw man drag
ging Rose from under the machine,
and saw that the man was Marrophat.
And almost Immediately someone lift
ed 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.
The crash he had expected, of the
car being crumpled up by the oncom-
ing locomotive, did not follow.
AS he scrambled to his feet, his first
glance was up the track, and discov-
cred the train slowing to halt
His next was one of wonder for the
countenance of Judith Trine as she
stood, at little distance, regarding
him; her look almost illegible. q curl
GUS compound of passions coloring it,
relief. regret, hatred. love
His third glance deserted beyond
her the figures of Marrophat carrying
Rose in his arms, stumbling as he ran
toward his car on the highroad.
He moved precipitately to pursue,
but found his way barred by Judith.
mol" she cried violently. mo, you
shall mott"
Her hand sought the grip of a re-
volver that protruded from her pocket
With short hysterical gasp he be-
gan to laugh
What" he taunted her-"again7 r.
Think what you like!" she cried in
frenzy. You saved me once--now l
spare you. We're quits. But next
time"
"O-rot!" he interjected you will