The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-22
By 7. w. HANSHEW

Mrs. Berwick. Alisa, Mrs. Heseltine and
Mr.. Narkom were gathered round the
chauffeur.
At sight Of the doctor perfect babe
i of voices broke OUTPUT it was Iohn
Berwick who told the tale.
i Clifford" he gasped. Hes gone. Hes
stolen, The fool of a chauffeur let him
drive slowly down the path. and out
side a man sprang from behind the hedge.
| threw Stevens out and drove of with
him.
/ An exclamation Of horror burst from
the lips of DIR. Cotton and Mrs. Feseltin-
broke into At of violent weeping.
! Go after the scoundrel"' cried the doc
tor. his fine old face quIvering with emo
i ton. and. BY heaven. if but a hair Of
NY lambs head has been hurt-Ill mur-
der him with nv own hands. Mr.. Mar
{ kom. your car
| The limousine. of course. hsA for
| gotten that" cried the superintendent
| joyfullv. TIL go with you. He turned
! to Cleek
L should only be IN the way with nv
| game leg. especially il it comes to
/ struggle" Cleek said carelessly. If YOU
happen across Dollops YOU might give
him this for me. will you" He scrubbed
something on a page of his notebook and
handed it to Mr.. Narkom
Ten minutes later. the pursuers were
on their way. leaving Cleek to his own
devices. Yet strangely enough. when the
women had left the room. Mrs. Hesel-
tine sobbing piteously. all traces of his
limp had vanished as he stepped over
to the chair.
Meanwhile Mr.. Narkom and the doctor
jumped into the limousine. instructed
Lennard to put on top speed and sped
down the long. white ribbon of road at
a lively clip. As they swerved madlv.
round corner upon two wheels. DR..
Cotton. staring from his window. uttered
a quick exclamation and clutched Mr..
Narkom's arm. The superintendent
leaned out of his side. and saw in the
distance black spot.
Nearer and nearer they came 70 that
moving speck, and nearer. until II grew
so large finally that they could see the
red hair of the driver shining in the
sunlight like molten copper. and the flut-
ter of little Clifford's hand like flash
of white.
DR. Cotton leaned still farther out of
the window.
Cliff. my boy. nv boy he cried.
waving his handkerchief I'm coming
Be brave. be brave
Again the car shot forward like a live
thing. But even a they reached their
goal. even as victory seemed so sure
thing. fate stepped in and took the
laurols from their hands. For the red
haired man turned suddenly. whipped
out something that glinted and shone
where the sun caught it. Mr.. Markom
was conscious of A flash of fire. and the
sound of sharp explosion. and instant
" there was ruction,. The limousine
jerked like frightened horse. and the
smell Of burning rubber arose The left
front tire was fiat as the proberviaI
pancake.
Mr. Markom swore. DR.. Cotton gave
vent to an exclamation which was hard
ly in keeping with his gray hairs. hut
there was nothing for it but to call the
limousine to n sudden halt. even as thev
watched their prey swerve round the
corner and disappear from view
1t took them some time to get another
tire fitted. and though the doctor wished
to continue the chase the superintendent
refused II was already noon when the
two returned and walked into the lit
tie room at the end of the passage
wherein Miss Lorne and Mrs Berwick
One look at DR.. Colton's face told
them that there was only i'll news. and
Mr.. Narkom looked round hastily for
Cleek. but there was no sign of him.
He swung round again the door was
opened. and Mrs. Heseltine her eyes
red with crying. burst in upon them. She
swept up to DR.. Cotton and seized his
hand. but the old man shook his head.
All at once great sound shook the
room to its foundations. 1t was like
the roaring of a lion. II seemed to pen
citrate the whole house and AiIsa.
her face pale and awestruck. shut her
hands together and breathed hard
The lions she murmured "CIifford's
ions"
DR.. Cotton gave a little gasr of sur
prise. He looked at Mrs Heseltine,
Mrs. Heseltine looked at him Instinct
vely they both moved toward the old
safe.
Seems as though 1t were coming from
here. doesn't it, said the doctor. look
nS around the little awestruck crowd in
ne room. He turned the handle and
he great iron door swung out upon its
'usty hinges showing the gloomy inte-
ior
And then the doctor did a remarkably
TRANCE thing. Looking neither 10 right
Tor left. he entered the safe followed
loosely by Mrs. Heseltine's sturdy figure
there was the sound OF a sharp c-click,
he harsh era ting as OF a sheet of iron
einS drawn backward into the socket
md even as Ailsa sprang up with a
titled cry and turned toward those two,
voice. strangely familiar. strangely
lear and crisp. issued from it. and
,leek stood bowling and smiling in front
( them,
Ladies and gentlemen" said he Per
nit me. With the compliments of
cotland Yard"
There was the sound of a sharp scuf-
lie. the clatter of many feet. the hoarse
houting of many voices, and then
nick. snick went the handouts and DR.
olton found himself enjoying the close
ompany of Mrs. Heseltne. while Cleek
TODD smiling beside them
ne games up. my friend" aid that
entleman blandly. as he looked down
ITO the doctors panicstricken face
You won't have such a good chance Of
lheriting those millions yet. Mr.. Ed
ard Burwick. and don't you forget it"
The doctor nlouthed and squirmed like
whipped animal You've beaten me.
lrse YOU" he cried. but I've done for
ne family of 'em-the last brat is out
the way"
Not quite so quickly. my friend
Cleek whistled. and the door swung
pen to admit Dollops. a red wig and
oard in his hand and at his side little
linord eyeing the group with childish
musement
Take him away in safety. Dollops,"
lid Cleek. airily waving his hand toward
lem Then as the door shut he turned
the prisoners.
There is the murderer. Mrs Berwick.
lie murderer of Maurice and the two
lildren. Miss Lorne"
The roaring had not ceased. and Ailsa
owed toward the safe.
The chair, mind the chair" cried
.eek. Don't move till I haye dis