The Tupelo journal., 1916-12-08

used in his unregenerate days.
1t was not to be denied that some
thing of the fearful JOY which attaches
itself to a daring crime pulsed once
more in Reilly's veins as he fled with
the hounds of the law yelping on his
heels. He followed a familiar path.
At the end of a sloping roof he knew
he would find a raised balustrade
which would check an otherwise inevi-
table descent into the street beneath.
From the fiat top of the cornice 1t was
possible to spring across an alley to
the roof of the nearest house, and
thence climb, catlike, among a forest
of chimneys to a well-remembered fire.
escape.
Reilly was slightly out Of condition,
Il his nerve was steady as ever, and
he took that spectacular leap through
midair with all bis old confidence.
He hung back purpOsely until the
hand of the nearest policeman was
actually Outstretched to clutch him.
He counted altogether on the fact that
the men would balk at hat unnerving
jump, because, such is the force of i'm
agination, the average individual will
falter at a spring high up above the
ground which would not demand any
display of courage or resolution if tax
en- on terra firma.
In n respect, however, Reilly's cal.
culations erred. He had not realized
how thoroughly the patrolman called
on by the valet had organized his
forces to surround the building. Not
only were policemen in overwhelming
numbers stationed at every exit from
the Hell-cats' headquarters, but We
dettes occupied strategic points on ev.
cry possible line of retreat. SO Reil-
leys daring leap was noted, and the
pursuit was developed by others who
had not been called on to negotiate
that ugly-lOoking chasm.
The fugitive contrived to get down
MS tavorite fre-escape only to find the
pack in full cry behind him. He ran.
the policemen ran, Il gathering mob
trailed in behind, and so q veritable
mob swarmed around the Settlement
when Reilly dashed through it's hos
pitable portal.
1t was now hopelesSly out of the
question that he should stop and ex-
plain. He must carry through the pre-
tense TO the bitter end, because a hun
dred pairs of eyes would eagerly de-
YOUR every phase of the capture when
he was grabbed by the police. and a
hundred tongues retail the astounding
fact that this master criminal had
gone off on the best of terms with the
cops
OF course, he was able to gain q
slight respite by reason of his knowl-
edge of the familiar but intricate turns
in the Settlement building. Thus. he
dashed into the office used by Miss
Grace Coe a few seconds in advance
of the hue and cry.
The girl looked up with an air of
surprise, since her trusted assistant
was not in the habit of entering so
unceremoniously.
Don't ask me to explain now, miss
he painted brokenly. "Ill make every
thing clear in Il minute or two. Hide
me from the police. Tell them I'm
not here. It's all right, miss; it is,
really. :"
He could say no more. The girl had
to decide in an instant, but she placed,
implicit trust in the man, and babe
him enter a closet in which she usual
ly kept Il macintosh and some spare
clothing in case of bad weather.
A policeman dashed in and asked
her if she had seen a man whom he
described hurriedly, and who obvious
ly could be none other than Reilly.
"NO," she said. on the spur of the
moment. "He is not here
The policeman, however, was a
logged person, and not to be put off
his purpose by any woman's wiles.
I'm afraid I'll have to search,
miss" he said firmly, and. after a
quick glance around the room, tore
open the closet door.
Reilly's subterfuge was now at an
end. He must either fight or yield.
He might have endeavOred to trip the
policeman, and seek a new refuge,
when any chance of success in this re-
spect was completely spoiled by the
appearance of other officers.
Grace. however, interviewed. She
placed her hand on the policeman's
arm and said earnestly:
II am sur this man has done moth
ing wrong. He is n Of my most
loyal helpers"
"Can't help that. miss said the POI
liceman gruffiy. "We caught him on
the job. If he's honest why did he
rum"
The argument was unanswerable.
Reilly was handcuffed forthwith. and
would have been led away in durance
vile had not Burton come in with the
valet. OF course John recognized inn
m~ediately the man whose valiant i'm /
PREVENTION had saved him from Seri-