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

IS: land il you make quick job OF 1t,
III stand the cost of the new tire"
''But Il another cab comes along
While you're at it you'll lose us as
quick as u wink. Here's my card. in
case we have to desert you In hurry;
you understand this is matter OF life
and death. und I'll nave no time to
settle up with you. But you can call
ut MIR. Digbys Office and he'll fix
things up 70 your satisfaction"
The man toaE the card and after a
glance TT the name touched his hat
with moro noticeable respect.
'AlI right. aIr. Law" he agreed;
anything you say" And forthwith
got to work.
The ranidity with which he com
pleted the change OF tires proved him
an excellent chauffeur, an adept at his
craft; but the delay was one dtsas'
trous for ali that. 1t worked together
with what Alan pardonably described
as the devils Own luck to bring the
touring car in sightnt the precise mo
ment when the chauffeur was cranking
up and Alan OF, the point of re-enter
ing the cab. And though they were
off again before Alan could close the
door, the attempt was hopeless from
the start.
And yet-whether or not because
Alan's distaste for interference had
been too convincinsly demonstrated
the touring car for the time being
contented itself with trailing about
fifty feet ii tile rear, while the taxi
fed the tenement purlteus of.the Iio-
boken waterfront and found its way
into tile broader streets of an UMPIRE.
tentious suburban quarter.
Not until they were we'll tntot the
suburbs, with few dwellings near and
no pedestrians to interfere, did Mario
phat's purpose become apparent. Then,
howeyer-and 1t happened while Alan
was looking back--the touring car
drew in swiftly and easily and Mario
phat, rising in his scat, ieveled are
volver over the windshield and fired.
The crack Of his weapon was prac-
tically coincident with metallicfthud
beneath the rear seat OF the taxicab.
Z Not for some moments did Alan APP
,preciate the viciOnsness ofthe scheme.
surmfsing that the gasoline tank had
peen punctured by the bullet. he was
inclined TO believe. that MarEophat
1Ioped TO stop the taxicab by depriy.
ing it, in course of time, OF its fuel.
And with this IN mind he was present
ly surprised, as the cab took a corner
to see Marrophat's car stop gat tnat
corner and Marrophat himself get
down. The brow of hill 'interVenea'
shutting off sight OF the blackguard as
he knelt and lit match. 1t was the
girl who gave the alarm, suddenly
withdrawing her head from the WIN
dow to scream at Alan:
"..:e's fred the gasoline! It's fam'
ing along the street, following the line
of the leals-and catching up with u.s. :
Without pauslng to put his hand to
the latch, Alan Kicked the door open.
"Jump!" he cried. For your life
jump! AS soon as that flame catches
up with the tank"
SimultaneouslySthe chauffeur, over
hearing, shut on the power.
The three gained the sidewalk bare e
IL in time: theAtify trail of flames, al
most lmperceptible in the sunlight
was not yard from the Jet that spurt'
ed Through the bullet holeain the tank.
In the fiutter OF an eyelasli the explo'
sion followed. Had the cab been load
ed with nftroglycerInt its destruction
could have been no more absolute
y There was roar. and tnen
a heap of smoking ruins.
Without waiting TO admire the spec.
tacle, Alan caught the arm of the girl
and hurried lherau the street, lat the
same time calling to the chauffeur to
follow. And chance brought them TO
the next corner+as another cab, fare.
less, hove into view. Promising Its
driver anything lie might ask, in or
out of reason, Alan gave him the al:
dress, and helped lie girl in.e ~ q
lfMarrophat pursued Alanicould see g
no sign Of him Tile second car made
Determine than the first: Ilnhinae Tered.
aud as TAR as could abe def ermined,
nj thout being follow ed IT covered the
brief remaining distance In q grate-
fdlIyS short lapse d time