The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-11-10

= I;hat woman is Juolth
"This isn't the only ferry. There's
the Pennsylvania and the Lackawannn
and by hard driving he might even
manage to catch the boat that con
meets with this from the christopher
street ferry of the Erie!"
Impossible! don't believe 1t!
WON'T"
Lets not" she agreed. But, Alan
"Yese"
Promise me-if he should manage
to catch up with us-yon won't let him
talk to you. mean. don't let him"
mo fear OF that!" he asservated
l1otly. "If he tries to exchange one
word with mel only wish lie would"
She seemed satisfied with that; but
the Incident had served appreciably to
chill their spirits. They accomplished
the remainder OF that voyage in a
silence that was no less depressed he.
cause they sat hand in hand through,
out.
Nor was their taxicab three minutes
out OF the ferry house on the Jersey
shore-though the chauffeur, stimu-
later by Alanis extrayagunt promises,
was doing Ills best TO fracture the
speed laws and escape arrest--when
the girls fears were amply justified;
a shout from behind drew Alan's head
out OF the window on one side and the
girls on the other and proved to both
that Marrophat had indeed found some
way to make the crossing without
great delay.
His touring car was within fifty
yards when they first we're aware OF
1t: and Marrophat, standing on the
running.b board, was shouting inarticu.
lately and hourlshing an imperative
hand; while the distance between
them was momentarily growing less
noticeable.
AS Marrophat's car drew abreast
Alan nodded and said quietly: Don't
be aIarmed;- can attend to this gen.
tleman single.handed."
And this he proceeded to demon
strate with admirable ease, even
though called upon to do SO far soon
er than he had thought 10 be-thanks
to NIarrophat's hair-braned precipi'
fancy. For failing to Influence the
taxi driver by .shouted demands or
threats, or to gain the least attention
from Alan, Trine's first lieutenant abb
ruptly and surprisingly look his life
In his hands and In one wild bound
bridged the distance between the two
flying cars and landed on the taxi's
runnlngboard.
Stop!" he screamed mndly. stop,
l say! You don't know what you're
doing! Let me tell you"
He got that far but no farther. In
the same breath Alan had flung wide
the door and was at the fellows throat.
There was struggle Of negligible
duration; Marrophat was in no way
his antagonists match; within three
seconds he threw out both hands,
clutched. hopelessly at the framework
of the cab, and fell heavily to the
street.
The taxi sped on without pause, its
driver deaf to the halls Of Innocent If
indignant bystanders. Alan pulled
himself together and looked back just
in time to catch a glimpse OF a num'
her of loafers lifting Marrophat to his
feet and helping him to the sidewalk
of an unsayory.looking tenement, be,
fore the cab took a corner on two
tWheels 70 N1t ~ tft
I mot seriously injured, fancy" he
told the girl In response 10 her eager
look. Worse luck!" he added
gloomily.
But it seemed that he was to have
greater cause than this to complain OF
his luck. before that ride was ended.
Three blocks further on q tire blew
out with a report like a cQnnon-craelt'
er, and the taxi lurched perilously.
thesitated, slowed down, aud limped
dejectedly to the curb.
Alan and the chauffeur piled out in
the same instant, the one standing
guard-with an eye out as well for
another cab-while the other assessed
damages. !.
Nothing for 1t butEa new tire, sir"
this last reported sympatheti IT
must have been a broken bottle or
connecting like SthatsAitt sure did rip
the ialnessi clean out 81 that shoei
s6Cso AZ a %, "a Ian advised him terse: