The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-01

floor of the cab.
"Oh, are we running away?'
she breathed awesomely into his
ear.
II think not-dear," he an
swered back, the last word inau-
dible. THE driver thinks we are
in a hurry, but he has no need to
go at this furious pace. l will
tell him."
He leaned forward and tapped
on the glass, but the driver paid
no attention save to drive faster.
Gordon tried again, and accom-
panied the knocking this time
with shout, but the cab ratified
steadily on.
Gordon discovered now that
there were two men on the box
instead of one, and a sudden pre-
monition sent a thrill of alarm
through him.
What a fool he had been to get
into a carriage where he was at
the mercy of the driver. He
ought to have stayed in open
places where kidnapping would be
impossible.
He tried to open the door next
him and found the catch held
fast. Then cold sweat stood out
upon him and horror filled his
mind. His commission was in
jeopardy. His own life was in all
probability hanging in the bal
ance, but most of all he felt the
awful peril of the sweet girl by
his side.
Instinctively his hand went to
the pocket where he kept his re-
volver.
The street over which they
ratified was utterly dark. Gordon
was sure from his knowledge of
the stations that they had gone
much farther than to East Lib
erty.
1t occurred to him that he
might be able to get the window
sash down and speak to the
driver. He struggled with the
one on his own side for while,
with little result. 1t was plugged
up with wads of paper. 1t began
to look as IL there was intention
in sealing up that carriage.
He leaned over and felt around
the sash of the opposite door and
found the paper wads there also
Not to alarm Celia he straighten-
ed back and went to work again
at his own window sash, eau
tiously pulling out the paper un'
til at last he could let down the
glass.
Gordon leaned his head out OF
the window, but Immediately
i cauglE the CLEAN of a revolver In
hand that hung at the side oil
the drivers box.
The owner of the hand was not
looking toward him, but was talk.
ing in muffled tones to the driv'
er. They evidently had not heard
the window let down.
IL he were alone he might
knock that revolver out of the
mans hand and spring from the
window, taking his chances OF
getting away, but now he had
Celia to think OF and the case
was different.
He wondered at his own
GOODNESS as he sat back in the
carriage and quietly lifted the
glass frame back into place. Then
he Ibid steady hand on Celia'a
and STOPPING close whispered into
her ear:
81 am afraid there's something
wrong with our driver. Can you
be little brave-dear?" lie
did not know he had used the
last word this time, but 1t thrilled
into the girls heart with sud
den accession of trust.
"Oh, yes,' she breathed close
to his face. "You don't think he
has been drinking. do your"
"Well, perhaps?" said Gordon,
relieved at the explanation. Sup
pose you change seats with me
and let me try II that door will
open easily. We might want to
get out in a hurry in case he
slows up somewhere pretty soon"
Celia quietly and swiftly
slipped into Gordon's seat and he
applied all his strength and in-
genuity, gently manipulating the
latch and pressing his shoulder
against the door, until at last II
gave way reluctantly and he
found that 1t would swing
open.
Gordon took a survey of the
enemy from that side. There was
no cleaning weapon here. The
man was laying on the whip and
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