The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-24

Impossible! I 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. mean. don't let him"
mo fear Of that!" he asservated
hotly. 'If he tries to exchange one
word with mel only 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.
Nor was their taxicab 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
yards when they first were aware of
It; and Marrophat,> standing on the
running board was shouting inarticu-
lately and flourishing an imperative
hand; while the distance between
them was momentarily growing less
noticeable.
| As Marrophat's car drew abreast
Alan nodded and said quietly: Don't
be alarmed; can attend to this gen.
tleman single-handed."
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 precipt
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 alb
ruptly and surprisingly took his life
in his hands and In one wild bound
bridged the distance between the two
. flying cars and landed on the taxi's
running-board.
, Stop!" he screamed madly. stop,
I 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 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 thu
4 street.
!" The taxi sped on without pause, 1T
I driver deaf to the halls of innocent 1
. indignant bystanders. Alan pulle'
himself together and looked back jus
in time to catch glimpse of mum
a Der Of loafers lifting Marrophat to hi
+ feet and helping him to the sidewal
D Of an unsavory-looking tenement, b.
= fore the cab took q corner on tw
. wheels :"
q mot seriously injured, l fancy" h
told the girl in response to her cage
n look. "Worse luck!" he adde
gloomily.
But 1t seemed that he was to hav
70 greater cause than this to complain {
his luck, before that ride was ende'
70 Three blocks further on tire BILE
out with report like a cannon.cracl
>" or. and the taxi lurched perilousl,
q hesitated, slowed down, and limpe
le dejectedly to the curb.
Alan and the chauffeur piled out
Or the same instant, the one standin
is guard-with an eye out as we'll Il
n another cab-while the other assesse
i'd damages.
Id Nothing for 1t but q new tire, sir
T. this last reported alphabetically.
must have been broken bottle ,
,. something like that-it sure did r
do the usefulness clean out Of that shoe
or go to IT," Alan advised him tera
81 ly; "and II you make q quick Job Of
et- I'll stand the cost Of the new tire"
but II another cab comes aloI
ey while you're at It you'll lose US
he quick a. q wink. Here's my card.
r. case we have to desert you in hurr
er- you understand this is matter Of II
ne and death. and IN have no time
nd settle up with you. But you can c,
at Mr.. Digby's office and he'll
things up to your satisfaction"
The man took the card and after
glance at the name touched his b
with more noticeable respect.
ns "Al right, Mr.. Law" he agree
ast anything you say" And forthwi
got to work.
an The rapidity with which he CO
ICE pleted the change Of tires proved b
In an excellent chauffeur, an adept at
ex- craft; but the delay was one dis
er- trous for all that. 1t worked togetf
'ru with what Alan pardonably descrit
All as the DEVILS own luck to bring
Inc touring car in sight at the precise I
lce ment when the chauffeur was crank
NC up and Alan on the point Of recent
ase ing the cab. And though they w
OF again before Alan could close
the door, the attempt was hopeless fr
u. the start.