The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-02-18


9 as was poverty-stricken in re-
spect of motor cars, Mesquite itself
boasted two motorcycles whose own
ers were not Indifferent to a chance
to sell them secondhand at con-
siderable advance on the retail list
price of the machines, when new.
And thus it was that, within ten
minutes from Roses discovery of that
chance-hung warning in the dust, the
party was again in rapid motion.
His beauty sleep disturbed by the
departure Of the machine bearing
Barcus and Judith, Seneca Trlne
reused on an elbow and looked out OF
the window just in time to see the
second motorcycle gathering momen'
tum, Alan steering, Rose in the seat
behind.
Sixty seconds later a Haunting BAN
ner of dust was all that remained to
remind Mesquite that romance had
passed that way-that, and a series
of passionate screams emanatlng
from the bedchamber of Seneca
Trine, where the cripple lay posses
sed by seven devils Of insensate rage.
His screams brought attendance;
but it was a matter Of many precious
minutes before his demands could be
met and Marrophat and Jimmy reused
from their crapulous slumbers In ao.
Joining chambers; and half an hour
ELAPSED before the chauffeur, reused
from his own well-earned rest, sue
ceeded in convincing the pair that
pursuit with the motor car was out
of the question.
But the devil takes care Of his own:
within another half hour what seemed
to be sheer, bull-headed, dumb luck
brought a casual automobile to Mes
ouite-a two-seated, high-poWer
racing machine Of the latest ana
speediest pattern, driven by two IRE
sponsible wayfarers who proved oniy
too susceptible to Marrophats oner OF
double the cost Of the car-f. O. o.
Detroit-for its immediate surrender.
The two piled out promptly enough;
Marrophat and Jimmy jumped IN,
Trine from his bedroom window speo
them on their murderous mission "ltn
blast Of blasphemy.
It must have been an hour later
when Alan, checking his r1otorcycie
as II surmounted the summit OF
long upgrade, looked back and ais
covered. several miles distant on tue
far-aung windings Of the mountain
road. q small crimson shape that ran
like a mad thing tirelessly pursued
bv cloud of tawny dust like gold
en- ghost.
motor car, beyond all question:
and one of uncommon road-deyourlng
quality: it might or might not con-
tain Marrophat and Jimmy, once more
in pursuit. Whether or not, bitter
exnerience had long since educated
Alan in the gentle art of taking no
chances.
Though it was his life that they
sought so pertinaciously, no later tnan
Yesterday (and then by no means fol
the first time), they had proved that
If Rose were with Alan they wouio
include her ruthlessly in whatsoever
scheme they might contemplate for
his personal determination.
Nor would Tom Barcus be exempt
If thev. we're caught in company
though Judith might be, in view OF
Marrophat's infatuation for the girl:
These two were far ahead, out OF
sight. indeed; and must somehow Do
overtaken and varned-no easy mat
ter since the machine which bore
them was, if anything, faster tnan
Alan's, just as the racing automoDlie
was faster than either.
Alan kept his gaze steadfast 10 rne
road before them, daring not once 70
look up and round or back.
So sinuous and meandeHng was Its
course indeed, that Alan seldom could
see a hundred yards Of it ahead, out
must pelt on in panic fight, hoping
for the best-that Judith and Barcus
would soon show up in front, that
something might happen to hinder the
nursuit-never knowing whether the
latter lost or gained.
And thus catastrophe befel
Round the swelling bosom Of a wood