Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-07-23
decision. At last he drew the back
of his hand across his mouth with a

"Mul," he said, "they say as it's
but that gets my goat Something's
going to happen. l feel it In me. And
I'm going to stay and see it through"
Much as he needed the liquid re-
freshment which had presented it's
mental picture so alluringly to his
mind, O'Sullivan felt that he could not
go home until he had solved the mys.
terry Of that chair. He could think Of
no mechanical law which would enable
1t to balance itself upon single
wheel with such tenacity that, with the
exertion of his utmost strength, he
was unable to disturb it's equilibrium.
What was the hidden mechanism
which gave out that buZzing sound?
Suppose this were to be connected at
will with the running gear! Suppose,
for example, that, hidden under the
seat of the chair, was a powerful gas
engine, capable Of exercising sufficient
force to convert it, with a sharp,
wedge-like front, into battering ram
and hurting it at thirty miles an hour
through the crowded streets Of the me-
tropolis! A vista of possibilities
stretched before O'Sullivan's mind.
Muttering uneasily, he left Mulcahey
and started in pursuit of the cripple,
with the intention of questioning him
further.
"Aw, it's only bicycle chair" ex.
claimed the other in disgust at his
friends curiosity, which he felt, in
some vague way, to be reflection up
on his lack of interest. whats bit
ing you, Danny? Come back!" But
O'Sullvan was already out Of hearing
and crossing the road in the cripple's
wake, pausing only long enough to
shoe away the pestilential small boys
that logged the trail of his quarry. A
glance back showed that Mulcahey had
changed his mind and was coming aft
er him.
But to the disgust Of both patrolmen
the cripple's chair seemed to take on
a sudden acceleration Of motion. O'Sul-
livan walked faster Yes, there was
no doubt of it. Although to his eye
more rapidly. yet the distance be-
tween himself and the peculiar vehicle
was materially increased. Then, re-
membering that the man would un-
doubtedly stop at Mr.. Staples house,
he proceeded more slowly and permit
ted Mucahey to catch up with him.
They were about five hundred yards
behind when the chair came to a stop
outside the millionaires residence.
They saw the crippled figure leave it
and move painfully up the steps with
the aid of two crutches. Long before
they had come up the door had closed
on the man, and, when at last they ar
rived, the empty chair was buzzing
amiably upon the curb
Il guess this story was straight
enough-thore's no use waiting, Mul,"
said Patrolman O'Sullivan. Mulcahey
shook his head doubtfully. He was
not sure; he was not by any means
sure that, even if the cripples exit
were orderly and peaceful. he would
not arrest him on the chance of hav-
ing picked up an eXconvict. But even
while he debated the front door flew
open and the cripple came hurrying
down the stairs with the aid Of his
crutches, while from within the hall
resounded the screams of the maids,
mingled with the shouts of the finan-
cier.
AS the patrolman dashed to seize
the fellow Staples came bounding
down the steps.
Arrest him!" he yelled, purple with
fury. Hes an escaped convict and
he's got five thousand dollars of mine.
damn him, in his coat pocket. Held
me up with pistol and made me open
my safe. Hold him!"
Were holding him." answered Null
cahey grimly, as ne clutched the man
by the collar, while OSullivan extract.
ed from his pockets bulging wallet
and a revolver. Loaded in every
chamber!" he exclaimed, inspecting
it. Hey, youse must be mad, young
feller. This amt no wild west show
this is Brooklyn!"
The cripples face remained entirely
impassive as the policeman bundled
him back into his chair. Followed by
the wrathful cries of the tinancier,
they prepared to wheel him to the sta
ton house.
my money!" cried Mr.. Staples. II
identify that He stole 1t from me a
minute ago."
Sorry, Mr. Staples" replied Mulca-
hey respectfully, but. you'll have to
get it from the sergeant, sir. That's
the law, Mr.. Staples, and I'll have to
take it with me. You can reclaim 1t
any time, sir" he continued. "Or II
you care to come along now"
He had turned his back on the chair
as he began to speak, while O'Sullivan,
holding the pistol and the wallet, was
pushing back the crowd which had in-
stantly assembled, his arm resting up
on the hand-wheel in order to keep
the vehicle motionless. OF sudden,
quick as a flash, the cripple's mighty
right arm shot forth and clutched him
as in a wise; an instant later, and the
chair had shot down the street with
the force of tornado, the wedge front
scattering the mob right and left, hurl-
ing them upon the sidewalk and into
the street AS O'Sullivan went down
he felt the wallet torn from his clutch;
before he could recover self-possession
enough to fire, the vehicle was no.
where in sight; only far down the road
a spiral column of dust showed the
course it had taken.
The two patrolmen stared dismally
at one another; Mulcahey from the
curb, where he stood staring helpless
ly after the machine, O'Sullivan from
the road, where he lay, dusty and torn.