The Washington herald., 1914-10-04

EsIScs
rattle Of policemanis locust the sidewalk.
That damned maid" Alan OWNED thoughtfully.
The same" Judith agreed with ominous calm.
Has It struck you that you may have some trou-
BILE getting away without my permission?"
"Fm not so stupid as not to have thought Of
that" he countered reproachfuIly.
Then be adVised-and take me with you"
I'm what capacity, please? As enemy or-aily?"
"As aly-youre right: can't be friends
until we overtake that special train. After that,
by your leave, III shift for myself"
IT'S not such a bad notion" he reflected: with
you under my eye, you can't do much to inter-
fere-"
"If promise" she suggested.
'T'n take your word" he agreed simply. But
you're in for lot of hardship, I'm afraid. The
one way to catch up with your father is by aero
plane-and I've got one waiting"
The police entered by the front door as the twe
crept out Of the area window.
n-vIA AIR LINE
Not once in the course Of the next sixteen hours
but thousand times Alan questioned (and, 1t viii
readily be allowed, with all excuse) his sanity in
permitting himself in being influenced to humor
Judith's insstence and make her party to this
h wild aerial cross-country dash.
Between whiles the plane few fast and high,
cutting direct line as the crow flies athwart the
eastern and western states.
Chicago they raised a smudge the northern
was some hours later, though still daylight, when
they picked up the special train flying like hunt
ed thing across the levels.
There was scant room for doubt but that It was
the train they sought Specials are not common.
Moreover Alan contrived with considerable DIM
Guilty to focus binoculars upon the platform Of
the car, and caught fugitive glimpse of white
coated figure with black face that was watching
the biplane in the same manner, that IS with
glasses.
The man in the white coat. Alan assured him
self. positively Barcus.
And hardly had be comforted himself with this
assurance when his sardonic destiny struck the
motor dumb.
In response to his look Of dashed inquiry the
aviator merely shook weary head and muttered
the words: Engine trouble"
Swiftly the earth rose to receive the volplaning
mechanism. Under Coasts admirable handling II
settled down almost without jar the outskirts
of a city whose name Alan never learned.
For the biplane barely at a standstin before
he was out and, reeling with the gfddiness that
affects men after long flights, making his way as
best he might toward the managers Office con-
nected with trainyard Immediately adjacent to
the spot where they had come to earth.
Lavish disbursement of money won him his way
against ohicial protests that what he demanded
was an impossbility. Within twenty minutes, leav-
inC Coast to follow when and as best he might,
Alan and Judith were spinning through open coun-
only clear track between it and the special
The several hours that ensued before the
lights Of the special were brought to view
none too many fer the task imposed upon Alan
Of overcoming the scruples Of the engineer and
fireman.
Another minute, and less than fifty feet separat-
ed the two-the special train and the light engine,
both hurtling through the night at top speed.
With q word to the engineer Alan crept out
along the side Of the boiler, with only greasy
handrail and a narrow foothold between himself
and what meant death, or something closely re-
sembling II, should he be shaken on by the tear
ing wind and the swaying Of the locomotive.
It seemed an hour before he worked himself up
to the cowcatcher-now within four feet of the
rear platform Of the special.
On this last he could see a woman's dgure in.
distinctly silhouetted against the light through the
door. and beside her man in a white coat cling
ing for dear life to the knob of the door-holding
IT against the frantic efforts of some persons in
side to tear it open.
Another hour of suspense dragged out-or such
was the enect-while the light engine with intofE
cradle slowness bridged those four scant feet
At length It was feasible to attempt the thing.
Rose (he could see her strained white face quite
ahead ready to jump.
His heart failed him. It was too hazardous q
risk. He dared not let her take 1t.
Something very like a shot sounded from the
train and something very Ike a bullet whistled
past his cheek, and proved the signal for several
more. -
Someone had opened one Of the side windows
and was emptying revolver at him.
Strangely. that knowledge steadied his nerves
Straining forward and holding on to bar so hot
that 1t scorched his palm, he offered a hand to
the girl on the rail.
Her hand fell confidently into it. She jumped.
His arm wound round her as she landed on the
platform Of the cow-catcher He heard her breathe
HIS name, then hurriedly passed her between him
self and the boiler to the footway at the sde The
fireman was waiting there to help her. Alan
turned his attention to Barcus
To his dismay he found that the engine was
losing ground The space was widening rapidly
as Barcus released the knob and threw himself
over the rail
By a miraculous. flying leap, the man accom-
plished that incredible feat and gained the plas.
form ......
An instant later ten feet separated the engine
from the special, as the engineer applied the
brakes.
And this he did none too soon: for at the same
time Marrophat and another appeared on the rear
platform and opened a hot, but thanks to the
widening distance Intellectual nre.