The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-07-22

the grounds at the back OF Stanley hall
| and Arthur was aware Of the watchful
deputy, with drawn pistol.
At this juncture the automobile
agent from Richmond came with honk-
ing horn up the driveway with one of
the first automobiles that had ever es-
sayed the roads Of Fairfax. With the
agent, who proudly drove the red
French racer, was an oily and grimy
garage mechanic driving low, old but
powerful one seated garage handy car
battered and scared from much hard
service, but still strong, speedy and
dependable.
The sheriff hammered and kicked
unavailingly at the stout, great white
door as these "newfangled contrap-
the portico steps. 81 am the sheriff.
he explained to the wondering auto
mobile man. II am after a man for
murder, and summon you to aid me-"
The tac1turn garage mechanic brought
heavy iron jack from his battered old
car, and he and the sheriff soon had
the stout oak door SCATTERING beneath
the battering ram blows they dealt it
with this heavy instrument Of iron.
AS the door gave way Arthur darted
from the library, past the still quaking
negro in the hallway and into the din
ing room. He passed through the din
ing room into the conservatory at it's
back that overlooked. as did the libra
ry, the grounds at the rear of Stan
ley hall. But here his way was block
ed by iron and glass, there was no
egress from the conservatory save
through the dining room.
AS he turned to retrace his steps the
sheriff, with the frightened automobile
man at his back, appeared at the door
OF the conservatory with leveled re-
volver and demanded Arthuf's sur
render. Arthur's reply was to seize
heavy rustic chair and with one
swinging, sweeping blow thrust aside
the leveled revolver and then smash
the heavy glass and the metal frames
OF the rear wall Of the conservatory
He leaped unhurt through the aDer-
ture thus made and fed around the
corner Of the house, followed by
fusillade of shots from the sheriff and
his deputy
At the front Of the house stood the
two automobiles deserted. The new
French racer stood throbbing under
power at the portals of Stanley hall
The excited dealer had not thought
further Of the fine new machine when
he heard she sheriff's quick summons
Tor assistance. The more phleg1natic
and practical mechanic had turned off
the mower of tho Cro1,
he had brought the sheriff the Jack to
smash the door.
Arthur jumped into the throbbine
new racer. He had little thought when
ne had ordered it in a fit Of reckless
extravaganza that its first service for
him would be in a need like this. He
sensed the use of its levers, and in the
instinct of fear and self preservation,
it may have been chance that aided
him, but DE, machine. bounded away
on highest speed, and Arthur turned
the steering wheel and made the turn
to the gateway safely
He gave one glance back and saw
the mechanic endeavoring to start the
other car, >While the sheriff stamped
and swore futilely. Whether it was
that the old dependable car failed for
once to respond or whether it was be-
cause the sporting instinct in the
gr1my mechanic was strong, and he
hoped for long, stern chase of
practiced driver i'll an old car after q
rank amateur il new French racer.
In either case the old car was some
minutes in responding to his efforts to