The Washington herald., 1914-11-15
Copyright, lsl4.l

had been put on point duty Al
Black Friars Bridge that morning. For
Collins was good looking. and-kneW It.
Nature had gifted him with a suscep-
tibIe heart. so when he saw the woman
threading her way through the maze Of
v,hicIes at Dead Mans Corner" with
her skirt held high enough to show two
little feet in French shoes, and over
them a UilIowy figure and over that an
enchanting if rather too highly tinted
face. that did for him on the spot, He
unhesitstingly sprsng to her assistance
and piIoted her safely to the curb. ting
ling as she clunE to him timidly but rath-
er firmly.
''sair, have to give you much graf
Itudc." size said in q pretty, wistfui sort
Of way. as they stepped onto the pave
rnent. ''Ah. IL is nowhere in the world
but Londres one finds these splendid
sergeants de Vile" she added with a
sort Of sigh. 'sair. am a stranger:
know not ze ways of this city OF amaze
snent, and II monsieur would so kindly
direct me where to hnd the Abbey OF
Westminster"
Before P. c. Collins could tell her that
IL that were her destination she was a
good deal out Of her latitude there arose
a thin piping sound. II was the shrillinE
Ct police whistle. far of down the en-
bankment.
'HuIIo,'' exclaimed Collins, all alert
at once Excuse me. mum. That's the
call to head on some one, and-by
George, there he is now coming head on.
the hound. and running like the windE'
For. OF = sudden. through a break in
the traffc. a scuddIrg figure had sprung
into sight-the figure of q man in a gray
frock coat and shining topper" we'll
sroomed. well-set-up.
"A swell pickpocket III lay my life
commented Collins as ne squared him
self for an encounter. Here! get out OF
the way. msdmszelly. Business before
pleasure. Here. chaufreur|'-this TO the
driver OF a big. black motorcar which
swept around the angle Of the bridge at
that moment-"we don't want you get
ting in the way. Now. then"-nodding
his head in the direction OF the running
man-"come on. YOU bounder,"
And, as IL he really heard that invita-
ton, the IAN did come on" with q
vengeance. And all the time. "madma-
zeIIy'' stood calmly and silently waiting
Onward came the runner. with a whole
roaring pack in his wake, scudding. dodg-
ing like a fox hard pressed by the
hounds-until. all Of a moment he spied
= bTeak in the tranic. Ieaped through It.
snd-then there was mischief. For Col
Inns spranE at him. like a cat, and had
him tight and fast
Got you, you ass snapped he. with
crisp, self-satisied laugh. None Of your
blessed souirming now. Got you-sot
You, Do you understand"
The response to this fairly took the
Kind out Of him.
of course I do" said the captive
rayly: that's part Of the program. Only.
for heavens sake, don't spoil the film by
remaining inactive, you goat! Make 1t
look real. You chaps behind there, don't
get in the way Of the csmera-it's in one
Of those cabs. Now, then, Bobby, strug-
Ele-struggle. you goat. and save the
film"
Save the what" Easped Collins.
"TIerc, Good Lord: Do you mean TO
Eay-'
e-strugEle-struggle cut In
the man impatiently. Cant you grasp
the situation? Heavens above. MarGue-
, rite, didn't you tell him."
Non. non, There was not re time
And he-sh. le bon Dieu!-he gif me no
chance. onicer. I beg, made 1t real!
Zrre something tinkled on the pave
ment-"zere. monsieur. zcre is the half
sovereign 10 pay you for ze trouble, only,
for ze Iof Of goodness do not pick It up
y niIe the instrumcnt-ze camera-he is
going"
The chop-fallen cry that Collins gave
vas lost in a roar OF laughter from the
pursuing crowd.
'strugEle-struEsls. you IDIOT broke
in the man irritably. You are being
devilishly well paid for it. That's it!
then loosen your grip so that can push
you away and make a feint OF punching
YOU of. All ready, there. Marguerite?
Ready with the motor. chauffeur? All
right. Now. then. Bobby. fall back. and
mind your eye. One. two. three-here
goes
With that he pushed the chop-fallen
Collins from him made a feint Of punch
ing his head. then sprang toward the
spot where the French woman stood
ready TO give a dramatic finish to the ad-
venture. For mademoiselle. seeing him
approach her. struck a pose. threw out
her arms. gathered him into them-to
the exceeding enjoyment of the laughing
throng. Then both looked back. gestic-
uIsted extravsgantIy and. rushing to
the waiting motor. jumped into it The
vehicle, dsrting forward. sped down the
Embankment in the exact direction
whence the man had originally come,
few on and-vanished.
Move on, now: move on said Collins
10 the jeering crowd. as he slowly recov-
cred his dignity. BLOW that Frenchy.
She might have tipped me OF before
made such an ass OF myself Hullo!
What's that? BIowed if it amt that
blessed whistle again. and another crowd
s-pelting this way, and-no!-yes-by