The daily star-mirror., 1915-02-13

experience had long since educated
Alan in the gentle art of taking nc
chances.
Though it was his life that they
sought so pertinaciously, no later than
yesterday land then by no means for
the first time) they had proved that
if Rose were with Alan they would
include her ruthlessly in whatsoever
scheme they might contemplate fo1
his personal determination.
Nor would Tom Barcus be exempt
if they were 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 be
overtaken and warned-no easy mat
ter. since the machine which bore
them was, if anything, faster than
Alan's, just as the racing automobile
was faster than either.
Alan kept his gaze steadfast to the
road before them, daring not once to
look UP and round or back
So sinuous and meandering was its
course, indeed, that Alan seldom could
see a hundred yards of it ahead, but
must pelt on in panic flight, hoping
for the best-that Judith and Barcus
would soon show up In front, that
something might happen to hinder the
pursuit knowing whether the
latter lost or gained.
And thus catastrophe befell
Round the swelling bosom Of wood
I'd mountainside the motorcycle swept
like hunted hare, and without the
least warning came upon Barcus and
Judith, dismounted, Barcus bending
over his cycle and tinkering with Its
motor.
For one horripilating instant COLI
sion seemed unavoidable. Barcus and
Judith and the motorcycle occupied
most of the width of the road; there
was little room between them and the
declivity, less between them and the
forest. To try to pass them on the
latter side would be only to dash his
brains out against the trees; while to
make the attempt on the outside would
be to risk leaving the road altogether
and dashing off into space
And it was impossible to stop the
cycle $50 brief was all his warning.
In desperation Alan chose the outside
of the road; and for the space of
single heartbeat thought that he might
possibly make it, but with the next
realized that he would not-seeing the
front wheel swing off over the lip Of
the slope.
At this he acted sharply and upon
sheer instinct. AS the cycle left the
road altogether he risked a broken
knee by releasing his grasp of the
handlebars and Strengthening out his
leg and driving it down forcibly
against the roadbed. The effect Of this
was to lift him bodily from the sad
die: the machine shot from beneath
him like some strange projectile
hurled from the bore Of great gun;
and Rose crashed against him in the
same fraction of second.
Headlong they plunged as one down
The hillside, struck it's shelving sur
face good twenty feet from the brink
If the road, and flying apart tumbled
their separate ways down the re-
of the drop and into the
friendly shelter of the underbrush.
Something nearly miraculous saved
hem whole. Beyond few scratches
md bruises and a severe shaking I'D,
hey escaped unharmed. And they
we're picking themselves up and re-
gaining their breath and re-collecting
heir scattered wits when, with i'm
,etus no less terrific than their own
lad been, the pursuing motor car
wung round the bend and hurled it.
elf directly at the two who remained
lpon the road above.
Continued Next Monday.)