The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-08-14

Tic OdOudA O1
Get down here and keep an eye on
this dicky-bird," he ordered Slug
him if he tries to make a break
But the cabman hung back.
I'm no fightin' man, sorr; an, be-
sides, 1 don't dare lave me harrses,"
he objected. But the officer broke in
angrily.
What the devil are you afraid of?
He's got the clamps on, and couldn't
hurt you if he wanted to. Come down
hereI''
The little Irishman clambered down
from his box reluctantly, with the
reins looped over his arm. When he
peered in at the open window of the
carriage the big man had passed be-
yond the swinging screens of the sa-
loon entrance and Griswold seized his
opportunity quickly
he whispered.
The cabman snatched a swift glance
over his shoulder before he ventured
to answer.
Don't yez be timptin' a poor man
wild wife an swim cI1ilder hangin' to
um-don't yez do it, sorrl"
Griswold, the brother-keeping. would
have thought twice before opening
any door OF temptation for a brother
man But the new Griswold had no
computations.
It's two hundred dollars TO you if
you can get me away from here be
fore that red-faced drunkard comes
back Have a anything,
! Here's the money!
For a single timorous instant the
/ cabman hesitated. Then he took the
/ roll OF money and crammed II into his
1 pocket without looking at it Before
| Griswold could brace himself there
was quick whish OF the whip, a pip
/ ing cry from the driver, and the
/ horses sprang away at a reckless gal
| lop, with the little Irishman hanging
/ TO the reins and shouting feebly like a
! faint-hearted Automedon-
Griswold caught a passing glimpse
of the red-faced man wiping his lips
/ in the doorway of the saloon as the
carriage bounded forward; and when
| the critical instant came, he was care
| full to fall out on the TiveTward side
| of the vehicle 1t was a desperate ex
| pedient, since he could not wait to
| choose the favorable moment, and the
| handouts made him practically help
| less. Chance saved the clumsy escape
from resulting in a speedy recapture
! When he tumbled out Of the lurching
| carriage he was hurled violently
| against something that figured as a
wall of solid masonry and was half
| stunned by the conclusion None the
! less, he had wit enough to lie motion
| less in the shadow of the wall, and
the hue and cry, augmented by this
time to a yelling mob, swept past
/ without discovering him.
| When it was safe to do so, he sat
| up and felt for broken bones. There
were none; and he looked about him
The wall of masonry resolved itself
into a cargo of brick piled on the
| levee side OF the street, and obeying
| the primary impulse of a fugitive, he
quickly put the sheltering bulk OF ii
between himself and the lighted thor
oughfare.
The next step had to be resOlutelJ
thought out How was he to get rid
of the handcuffs2 Any policeman
| would have a key, and there were
doubtless plenty of locksmiths in st
! Louis. But both of these sources OF
assistance were out Of the question
Whom, then? The answer came IL
| one word-McGrath- On day wheT
the upriver voyage was no more thai
fairly begun, one Of the negroes in the
crew had procured a bottle Of bad
whisky. To pacify him the mate had
put him in irons, using two pairs d
handouts for the purpose Therefore
McGrath must have key
But would McGrath do it, That re
NAMED to be seen; and since hesita
ton was no part of GriswOld's equip
ment, he covered the letters as vel
as he could with scrap Of bagging
and walked boldly down the levee ant
aboard the Belle Julie, falling into lin'
with the returning file of rOustabOuts
The mate was at the heel OF the
foot plank, and he saw at once VIVA
the scrap OF sacking was meant Il
hide.
Hello, there, Gavitti" he called. no
less gruffly than Of yore. but withOu
the customary imprecatior; what ar
We doing with thin things on?
Griswoid told a straight ztOry, con
cealing nothing-not even the detec
tive's refusal to tell him what he wa
arrested fox.
"Ye'd ought to find that cabby AM
buv him q seegyar," was The mate
comment. $50 ye legged L, did ye2
He led the way up to h2s quarter
! in the texas, and telling Griswold t.
wait. went down on his knees to rum
mage In the locker beneath the berth
asPve got a couple O. pair av thin
things in here, somewhere, and mayo'
the key to 'em will fit yoursZ
CTO BE CONTINUED