The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-12-15
Lets not" she agreed. ."Bht Alan,

r. "feS?" '. 80
@.Promise me-if he shoufd ma manage
to catch up with us-you won't let him
talk to you. l mean. don't let him"
mo fear of that!" he asservated
hotly. 'If he tries to exchange one
word with me--ronly wish he would!"
She seemed satisfied with that but
the incident had served appreciably to
chill their spirits. They accomplished
the remainder of that voyage in a
silence that was no less depressed be-
cause they sat hand in hand through
out. vs
Nor was their taxioab three minutes
out Of the ferry house on the Jersey.
shore-though the chauffeur, stimu-
later by Alanis extravagant promises,
was doing his best to fracture the
speed laws and escape arrest-when
the girls fears were amply justified;
a shout from behind drew Alan's head
out OF the window on one side and the
girls on the other and proved to both
that Marrophat had indeed found some
way to make the crossing without
great delay.
His touring car was within fifty
it; and Marrophat, standing on the
runnins-board, was shouting inarticu-
lately and fourishing an imperative
hand: while the distance between
them was momentarily growing lees
! noticeable
AS Marrophat's car drew abreast
Alan nodded and said quietly: Don't
be alarmed; ! can attend to this gen.
tleman singlehanded"
And this he proceeded to demon
strate with admirable ease, even
though called upon to do so far soon
er than he had thought to be-thanks
to Marrophat's hair-brained precipi
fancy. For, failing to influence the
taxi driver by shouted demands or
threats, or to gain the least attention
from Alan. Trine's first lieutenant abb
| ruptly and surprisingly took his life
| In his hands and IN one wild bound
bridged the distance between the two
| lying cars and landed on the taxi's
| running board.
stop" he screamed madly. stop,
l say! You don't know what you're
doing! Let me tell you"
He got that far but no farther. In
the same breath Alan had flung wide
the door and was at the fellows throat.
There was a struggle of negligible
duration; Marrophat was In no way
his antagonists match; within three
seconds he threw out both hands,
clutched hopelessly at the framework
| Of the cab, and fell heavily to the
| street.
The taxi sped on without pause, its
| driver deaf to the halls of innocent IL
indignant bystandes. Alan pulled
himself together and looked back Just
In time to catch a glimpse OF a num-
ber OF loafers lifting Marrophat to his
feet and helping him to the sidewalk
of an unsavory-looklng tenement, be-
:ore the cab took corner on two
| wheels :"
Not seriously injured, fancy" he
told the girl in response to her eager
look. Worse luck!" he added
| gloomily.
But 1t seemed that he was to have
greater cause than this to complain of
his luck, before that ride was ended
Three blocks furtHer on a tire blew
out with a report like cannon-crack-
er, and the taxi lurched perilously.
hesitated, slowed down, and limped
dejectedly to the curb
Alan and the chauffeur piled out in
the same instant. the ono standing
Suard-with an eye out as we'll for
another cab-whils the ether assessed
damages.
Nothing for it but a new tire, SIR"
this last reported sympatheticaliy. 1T
must have been a broken bottle or
something like that-it sure did rip
the usefulness clean out Of that shoe"
60 to It," Alan advhed him terse-
ly; and IL you make quick Job Of 1t.
I'll stand the cost Of the new tire"
But II another cab comes along
while you're - 1t you'll lose us as
quick as a wink. Here's my card, in
case we have to desert you in hurry;
YOU understand this is a matter of life
Ind death, and I'll nave no time to
cettle up with you. But you can call
ct Mr.. Digbys office and he'll fix
things up to your satisfaction"
The man took the card and after q
llance at the name touched his hat
with more noticeable respect.
"All right, Mr.. Law" he agreed;
anything you say" And forthwith
.ot TO work.
The rapidity with which he com.
,leted the change of tires proved him
IN excellent chauffeur, an adept at his
craft; but the delay was one disas-
trous for all that. 1t worked together
with what Alan nardonohIy doso.;ho,