Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-02-26

no doubt of it. Although to his eye
the wheel did not seem to be revolving
more rapidly, yet the distance be-
tween himself and the peculiar vehicle
was materially increased. Then, re-
membering that the man would IN
doubtedly stop at Mr.. Staples house,
he proceeded more slowly and permit
ted Mulcahey to catch up with him.
They were about five hundred yards
behind when the chair came to stop
outside the millionaire's residence.
They saw the crippled figure leave 1t
and move painfully up the steps with
the aid of two crutches. Long before
thew had come up the door had closed
on the man, and, when at last they ar
rived, the empty chair was buzzing
amiabIy upon the curb.
81 guess this story was straight
enough-there's no use waiting, Null,
said Patrolman O'Sullivan. Mulcahey
shook his head doubtfully. He was
not sure; he was not by any means
sure that, even if the cripple's exit
were orderly and peaceful, he would
not arrest him On the chance Of hav-
ing picked up an ex-convict. But even
while he debated che front door flew
omen and the cripple came hurrying
down the stairs with the aid Of his
crutches, while from within the hall
resounded the screams Of the maids,
mingled with the shouts of the f1nan-
cier.
As the patrolman dashed to seize
the fellow Staples came bounding
down the steps.
ARREST him!" he yelled, purple with
furv "He's an escaped convict and
he's got five thousand dollars of mine.
damn him, in his coat pocket. Held
me UP with a pistol and made me open
nv safe. Hold him!"
"We're holding him." answered Null
cahey grimly, as ne clutched the man
hv the collar, while O'Sullivan extract
ed from his pockets a bullying wallet
and a revolver. Loaded in every
chamber!" he exclaimed, inspecting
it. Hey, youse must be mad, young
Teller. This amt no wild west show
this is Brooklyn!"
The cripple's face remained entirely
impassive as the policeman bundled
him back into his chair. Followed by
the wrathful cries of the fnancier,
they prepared to wheel him to the sta
ton house.
"My money!" cried Mr.. Staples. Il
identify that. He stole it from me a
minute ago."
"sorry, Mr.. Staples" replied Mulca-
hey respectfully, "but you'll have to
get it from the sergeant, sir. That's
the law, Mr.. Staples, and I'll have to
take it with me. You can reclaim it
any time, sir" he continued. COR il
you care to come along now"
He had turned his back on the chair
as he began to speak, while O'SulliVan,
holding tho pistol and the wallet, was
pushing back the crowd which had in
stantly assembled, his arm resting up
on the hand-wheel in order to keep
the vehicle motionless. Of a sudden,
quick as flash, the cripple's mighty
right arm shot forth and clutched him
as in a wise: an instant later, and the
chair had shot down the street with
the force of tornado, the wedge front
scattering the mob right and left, hurl-
ing them upon the sidewalk and into
the street. AS O'Sullivan went down
he felt the wallet torn from his clutch;
before he could recover self-possession
enough to fire, the vehicle was no.
where In sight; only far down the road
a spiral column Of dust showed the
course it had taken.
The two patrolmen stared dismally
at one another; Mulcahey from the
curb, where he stood staring helpless
~ after the machine, O'Sullivan from
the road, where he lay, dusty and torn.
From the steps above Mr.. Staples
stormed for his money.
O'Sullivan held up bleeding hand.
It looked as though it had been torn by
pincers Of steel.
"It's gone, Mul," he said In hollow
tones. "He got it away from me. MY
God, he must have been travelling at
fifty miles an hour"
Mulcahey laughed derisively. FIFTY
miles, eh?" he said, sneering. Don't
you suppose I'd hit him if he'd been
going at fifty? Why, that was two
hundred If it was one; the fellow was
out of sight before I could draw me
gun"
Then, dashing through the immense
crowd which had blocked the roadway,
he ran into a nearby telephone booth.
Hello! MI Frank Staples has been
held up and robbed at No. 3742 Pros
pect Park West by a man in an auto,
wedge-shaped, running on a single
wheel. Got that? Yes, single wheel.
Machine is making for Fulton street
down Fiatbush, meaning, Of course, to
cross into Manhattan and gain the
country. Telephone all stationary posts
and branch Offices; call the bridge,
Manhattan side, and have ropes
stretched across the carriage road and
footway or he'll get free. You've got
less than three minutes to do 1t in"
He hung up the receiver and
slouched back like broken man, ae
indeed, he felt himself to be. This
meant the finish Of his career as a
member Of the police force. Three
minutes!" he muttered viciously
Three seconds, more like. I'll bet
he's over the bridge already. Unless"
de added, with a glimmer of hope
hes had collision"
p,,f tho mon IN Tho oboi,. rrac to0