The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-03


thfs the mob turned a. one man and
streamed away in pursuit OF an In
visible quarry, who chose to attempt
his escape by . route directly oppo-
site to that which would have led him
within view Of Mr.. Barcus.
Startled, and of a sudden persuaded
that there might have been more In
his bunch" than was sanely to be
credited, Barcus started up and was
on the point of stepping out OF his
cab, IL with q rather aimless purpose,
when he was stayed by sight Of that
evil white face returning the way 1t
had come-still in the hollow OF the
flying v, which now made faster prog
ress. thanks to the disorganixation OF
the mob by the chase of the alleged In
cendiary.
And now, Barcus saw, the man Of
the white face was not alone. There
was someone with him-someone
whose head was bent and face con-
cealed, but who seemed to be femi-
nine.
And so, Barcus argued. why might
It not be Rose Urine, suffering new
persecution at the hands Of her unnat.
ural fathers creatures?
He was too far away to make sure
and attempt any interference: but he
pointed White Face out to his chauf-
feur as the v reached q touring car
on the edge of the mob and the woman
was lifted in (unresisting and appar-
emily in q dead faint, and when the
touring car swung round and picked
up its heels. the taxicab Of Mr.. Barcus
trailed it as unostentatiously AZ II it
was q pertinacious shadow.
Ten minutes later. from the rear
deck Of q ferryboat In midstream-a
boat bearing back to New York not
only the touring car Of White Face,
but the cab of Mr.. Barcus-the latter
gentleman formed one Of small but
interested audience witnessing an in
cident OF uncommon character.
He saw young man. hatless, coat
less, almost shirtless, tear down to
the edge of one of the Jersey wharves,
his heels snapped at by a ravening
rabble, jump aboard square-rigged
vessel which lay moored there, and
execute a maneuver of despair by
climbing up the rigging in a hopeless
attempt to escape his prosecutors.
They were too many for him, and what
was worse they were headed by q
squad OF police apparently as grimly
bent on comprising the destruction OF
their quarry as was the mob.
And they swarmed up the rigging
after him without q moments hesita-
ton.
Holly pressed, the fugitive climbed
higher and still higher, until at length
he gained the topmost yard; with
three policemen not half a dozen feet
below him and popping away for dear
life, II happily with the VIGOROUSLY
poor craftsmanship Of policemen gen.
orally.
None the less, there was no telling
when some accident might wing a bull
let into the young man; and 1t was
evident that he so decided.
For, inching out to the end Of the
| yard, he waved his hand toward his
prosecutors with gesture Of light
hearted derision that Enthusiastically
identified him as Alan Law to Mr.. Bar
Gus, and forthwith dropped to the wa
! ter. feet foremost.
Alan later took the water neatly
, came up uninjured and clearheaded
and without an instant's hesitation
struck away toward the middle Of the
Hudson.
As this happened the police ran tC
the stern Of the square-rigger, un
moored dory that was riding there
and threw themselves into it.
During the Ito Barcus, at least
GREATNESS suspense Of that chase, the
ferryboat drew stolidly farther ani
still farther away from the scene. Bar
Gus could not tell whether, as Il
seemed, the police-laden dory was real
" overhauling Alan, or whether tn,
Illusion Of perspective deceived him.
At all events, It seemed a frightfully
near thing when the interruption be
fell which alone could have savet
Alan.
Out Of the very sky dropped hydro
aeroplane. cutting the water with {
long. graceful curve that brought 1t
almost at q standstiIl, directly to tn,
head Of the swimmer, and at the sam,
time forced the police boat to sheel
widely OF in order to escape collision
Immediately the swimmer caugh,
the pontoon Of the hydroaeroplane
pulled himself up out Of the water
and clambered to the seat beside tn,
aviator.
Before he was fairly seated the plan,
was swinging back into its tastes
pace.
| With the ease Of . Wild goose 1t lef
the water. mounted the long grade O.
an air lane, described q wide circl,
above the bluffs Of weehawken, ant
swept away southwark.
In that quarter It was presently los
to the sight of Mr.. Barcus, engulfed II
light folds of haze that were creepin,
In from Stewards to dim and tarnisl
the pristine brilliance of that day.
CHAPTER xxx,
elrdman.