New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-11-11
. CHAPTER XVII.
The Ring.

The RING.
Theirs was the last vehicle to swins
between the gates before these last
were closed.
And this was quite as well; for Alan
rising for one last backward glance
through the rear window, started in.
voluntarily and choked upon an ex-
clamation when he deserted a. power.
ful touring car tearing madly toward
the ferry-house, it's one passenger half
rising from the front seat, beside the
driver, and exhibiting countenance
purple with congested chagrin as he
saw his car barred out of the carriage
entrance.
Quickly sensitive to his emotion, the
girl caught nervously at Alan's hand.
What is it, dear?"
"Marrophat," he snapped.
She uttered hushed cry of dismay.
Don't be alarmed, however," he
fastened to comfort her. Hes lost
the race: the gates are shut-even the
passenger gates and there must he
company spotter somewhere near nv
for the gateman is virtuously refusing
to be bribed by a roll of money as
thick as my wrist!'
At that instant the taxicab rolled
aboard the ferry-boat; the deck gates
were closed; hoarse whistle rent the
roaring silence of the city;sswinches
ratified and chains clanked: and the
boat wore ponderously out of it's slim.
$50 much for Mr.. Marrophat!" Alan
crowed. sitting down. Fooled again!
He can't stop us now!"
Perhaps -
why that perhaps? Why that
tone?" he demanded sharply, struck
by the foreboding her accents con.
fessed M
"This isn't the only ferry. There's
the Pennsylvania and the Lackawanna
and by hard driving he might even
manage to catch the boat that con.
meets with this from the Christonher
street ferry Of the Erie!"
Impossible! don't believe it, !
WON'T"
Lets not" she agreed. But, Alan
"Yes?"
Promise me-if he should MANAGE
to catch up with us-you won't let him
talk to you. I mean, don't let him"
mo fear of that!" he asseryated
holly. IF he tries to exchange one
word with mel only wish he would,n
She seemed satisfied with that. hnt
the incident had served appreciably to
chill their spirits. They Accomplished
the remainder of that voyage in .
silence that was no less depressed he.
cause they sat hand in hand through-
out.
Nor was their taxicab three minn+os
out of the ferry house on the Jersey
shore-though the chauffeur, stimn.
later by Alan's extravagant promises
was doing his best to fracture the
speed laws and escape arrest-whon
the girls fears were amply iustified.
shout from behind drew Alan,s ho.d
out of the window on one side and the
girls on the other and proved ia hotb
that Marrophat had indeed found Soma
way to make the crossing without
great delay.
His touring car was within f,ftv
yards when they first were aware a.
It: and Marrophat. standing On the
running board, was shouting inarticu-
lately and fourishing an imperative
hand; while the distance between
them was momentarily growing less
noticeable. .. <.
IA AS Marrophat's car drew abreast
Alan nodded and said quietly: Don't
be alarmed; j can attend to this gen
tleman single-handed." y. III
And this he proceeded to demon.
strate vita admirable ease. even
though called upon to do 80 far coon
er than he had thought to be- thanks
g Marrophat's hair-brained rsec.nt