The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-12-15


preciate the 4iciousnsss of the scheme.
Surmising that the Gasoline tank had
neen punctured by the bullet, he was
inclined to believe that Marrophat
hoped TO stop the taxicab by depriv-
ing 1T. in course of time, of it's fuel.
And with this in mind he was present
ly surprised, as the cab took corner,
to see Marrophat's car stop at that
corner and Marrophat himself get
down. The brow of hill intervened.
shutting of sight Of the blackguard as
he knelt and lit o match. 1t was the
girl who gave the alarm, suddenly
withdrawing her head from the win.
dow to scream at Alan: =
Hes fired the gasoline! It's fam
Ing along the street, following the line
of the leak-and catching up with us!"
Without pausing 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"
simultaneously the chauffeur, over
hearing, shut off the power.
The three gained the sidewalk bare
ly In time; the tiny trail of flames, al
most imperceptible in the sunlight,
was not yard from the. jet that spurt-
ed through the bullet hole in the tank.
In the tlutter OF an eyelash the eXplo-
sion followed. Had the cab been load.
ed with nitrogly~erin it's destruction
could have been no more absolute.
There was a roar and then
heap of smoking ruins.
Without waiting to admire the spec
tacle, Alan caught the arm OF the girl
and hurried her up the street. at 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 he might ask, in or
out Of reason, Alan gave him the ad-
dress, and helped the girl in.
II Marrophat pursued Alan could see
no sign of him. The second car made
better time than the first. Unhindered,
and as far as could be determined,
without being followed. it covered the
brief remaining distance in a CRATE
fully short lapse of time
The suburb dropped behind a maze
OF streets where dwellings stood shoul-
der to shoulder and dooryards were
scant. The car swept up to a corner
house OF modest and homely aspect.
Two minutes more. and Alan was ex-
changing salutations with and making
his bride-to-be known to Digby's good
friend, the Reverend Mr.. Wright.
Embarrassment worked confusion
with the young mans perceptive facul-
ties. AS this moment approached
when two should be made one who had
gone through fire and food, literally
as well as figuratively for each 9TH
er's sake, incredulity drew a veil be-
fore his vision. He viewed the world
as in glass, darkly.
He was aware Of a decently fur
nished minister's study; of two wit
nesses in the guise of unassumng
womenfolk of the minister's house
hold; of the Rev. Mr.. Wright himself
as benevolent voice rolling sono-
rously forth from a black-clad pres
ence; of the woman of his heart stand
ing opposite him; of questions asked
and responses made: of a ring that
store apparently maintained against
precisely similar emergencies; of a
hand that took the hand that was to be
his wife's and placed 1t in his; Of his
clumsy and witless bungling with the
task OF fitting that ring to the finger
OF his sweetheart's hand
And then he was aware of q door
that banged violently in the hallway:
OF the sound OF mans voice making
some indistinguishable demand: that
Roses hand was suddenly whipped
away, before he could fit on the ring;
that the study door was flung open and
that this animal Of Marrophat had
precipitated himself into the room.
He opened his mouth to protest.
and Marrophat silenced him with a
cry.
You fool! Drop that ring! Stop
this farce! Don't you know whom
you're marrying? That woman is Ju-
dith Trine, you idiot-not Rose!"
Blankly Alan turned to the girl.
Her flaming face, her sullen eyes.
her very pose, from which the man.
,ner OF Rose had dropped like cast
garment, confessed the truth of Mar
rophat's assertion. And as if this were
not enough, Judith confessed it doubly
with sudden outbreak Of such rage
as never could have been brewed in
Roses gentle nature.
You devil!" she cried-and threw
herself in front Of Marrophat with
spring as 1.-the as that Of a leopardess.
Take warning now from me: keen
mt ,f