Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-05-06

80 P~ASSiS Nv"
Just before him was the last
building of the plant and beyond
that was Karloff's machine. AS he
ran he heard the sudden throb Of
It's motor, drew out more cartridges,
and fumbled them into his gun.
Then, with a final burst of speed,
he reached the auto and flung him
self upon the rumble. Kneeling, he
fired at the two dark figures which
darted from behind the building he
had just passed. One of them stum-
bled and went down. Just as he
fired again Karloff started the ma
chine.
1t darted away with a jerk, which
destroyed Gafford's aim and all but
threw him to the ground. By a
lucky chance he saved himself from
falling and kept a grip on the re-
volver.
A twist and wrench brought him
back to the rumble seat. Fire darted
toward him from the lone figure
which remained behind. Gafford
could see that the fellow was kneel-
ing and firing. From the sound Of
the shots he judged that he was u.s.
ing rife. He heard Karloff grunt
harshly as he bent at the wheel and
sent the car through the strange red
night. He chuckled without and real
perception of what he was laughing
about, and clung to his place on the
racing roadster. The kneeling fig
ure, now only dark blot in the
rear, fired again.
With leap Of wounded crca-
ture, the roadster swerved and
rushed from the road, plunged down
a slight incline, and brought up with
it's hood and front wheels hopelessly
jammed in smother Of brush.
Karloff cried out. Above the shock
Of the wreck Gafford heard him and
leaped to the ground. The Russian
was pulling himself from behind the
bent and twisted pillar Of the steer
ing post as Gafford reached the
front. BY final effort he succeeded
in freeing himself and climbed to
the ground, staggered slightly. re-
gained his balance, and shook off
Gafford's steadying hand.
"Stand him Off" he directed gruff-
ly. Hell follow now. He shot off
a tire. Stand him off till l can get
to the trackmen's hut. Well use that
car now. Load up and wait till he
comes up and get him. I'll take the
girl"
He turned, lifted Shiela bodily
from the car, and set off at a run.
The sound Of other feet running
came to Gafford as he waited and
stuffed cartridges into his gun. He
grimaced slightly as he climbed into
the left-hard seat Of the abandoned
auto and waited for his pursuer to
arrive.
The man came en- without pause.
Evidently he had heard the crash Of
the wreck and was bent on complet-
ing his capture. To Gafford's sur
prise, he ran forward without any
apparent effort at concealment of his
motions, until once more he showed
a dark figure in the road.
Gafford's weapon cracked. The
figure paused and appeared unde-
cided for the first time since the
ford's further surprise, he spoke.
McRae with you? I do not wish to
iniure her."
1t was superb. Whatever the fel-
low was, Gatford admired him in
that moment. He stood a plain tar
get for a careful shot and asked his
question with perfect assurance and
apparent forgetfulncss of his per-
sonal peril. And because he admired
the mans nerve Gafford held his
shot and answered him:
"Miss McRae is not here. Go as
far as you like"
"Rightw said the man withou.
moving and Immediately fired.
Gafford returned the shot. The
man without replying left the
road and rushed the machine. The
action was so unexpected, so without
warning, that it caught the Ameri-
can entirely off his guard.
He fired once wildly at the shape
which dashed down the incline in
tigerish spring; then the man hit the
step of the roadster, his hands grip
ped at the body, be forced himself
up, and sought to drag Gafford from
the seat. In that moment Gafford's
mind cleared AS the wiry grip of
the other closed upon his right arm
he shifted his gun to his left hand.
pressed it close to the face of the
Jap, and pulled che trigger.
The flash of the explosion lit up
for one moment the dark, snarling
visage of the Oshitu. The grip
loosened on Gatford's arm. and the
body of the man on the step seemed
to relax, sink together, and slip 10
the ground.
Gafford shivered With the rcac-
ton. Ne slid rom where h
crouched and stepped down bcsid.
the man he had killed. Still under
the grip Of those last few moments
Of rapid action he spoke az though
tie other could Acar: "Yon were
nervy little beggar, oshitu. I don't
care what you've done in the past,
my boy. You died like a man."
He turned, scrambled up to the
road, and set off for the trackmen's
hut. He reached 1t after a breath
less run.
Karlotf had wheeled the motor
onto the main track and sat in thu
drivers seat. AS Gafford flung him
self aboard he sent 1t away. The
same frenzy of speed which had