Meade County news., 1916-11-23

don't know the man. He would laughil
at the Idea of plot against him."
?, Merkle dozed again, half buried in
the cushions. They had passed Jamai-
ca, but it was not until 1t had swept |
into the Motor parkway that the
chauffeur let the machine out. Over
the deserted plains it tore, cometlike,
meteor preceded by streamer of
light. The eauseway leaped into view
and vanished beneath the wheels. ike
tremendous ribbon whirling upon
spools. Merkle lay back inertly, lolling
and swaylng to the side-thrust of the
cushions, but Lorelei found her fists
cllnched and her muscles hard with
the nervous strain Finally she pushed
the shield forward, and, leaning over
the front seat, stared at the tiny dash
light. The finger of the speedometer
oscillated gently over the figure "60."
and she dropped back with gasp.
They had been running thus for long
time.
Merkle reused to say, as this too
fast for you, Miss KnightT
She laughed nervously. "N-no. I'm
sorry woke you"
Merkle inquired the time of his
chauffeur then directed him to turn
homeward along the North shore.
81 shan't be selfish and keep you
out any longer, Miss Knight" he said.
IF you don't mind, I'll doze on the
way in, and try to figure out the next
move in this Harmon affair
The return trip was another hurtling
rush through the night, in a silence
broken only by Merkle's demand for
more speed whenever the machine
slackened its labor. The miles wheeled
past; the Sound lay to the right.
They were sweeping over a rolling
North shore road when suddenly out of
blackness ahead blazed two binding
headlights With startling abruptness
they appeared over the crest of rise;
Merkle's driver swung to the right.
there was blast of horns, dazzling
instant of intense illumination, then
crash as the inside mud guards met.
Merkle's car seemed to leap into the
air; there was a report of an exploding
, tire; the automobile was bucking and
humping, as If the pavement had been
turned into corduroy road; then 1t
came to pause, half in the ditch.
The other car held to its course, and
whizzed onward, leaving in Its wake
drunken shout Of mockery and def
, ance.
Marrow shave that. wonder we
weren't all killed" Merkle eyed the
, cars crumpled mud-guard and running
board, then directed his driver to as
certain the extent of the damage. The
motor was still throbbing, but a brief
| examination disclosed a broken steer
: ing knuckle and bent axle in add.
ton to an injured wheel.
"I'm terribly sorry, Miss knight; but
7 I'll have to send for another car" apol
ogized Merkle.
e "Is this splendid machine ruinedT p
: He shrugged. "That's the curse Of
9 these roads. Somebody is always driv
ing recklessly. Lorelei smiled al
l memory of the miles they had covered
so swiftly; but she saw that he was
g serious and in sour temper. "Ont
1 risks his life on the whim Of somt
: drunken idiot the moment he enters
t a motor car. Now for telephone" A
+ terse question to his man served to FL
o their location.
= "We're not far from the Chateau
: Merkle interpreted the answer. "That
: place is always open, so II you dom
: mind the walk well go ahead. 1t will
o take an hour to get one Of my othei
machines. but meanwhile we can have
+ a bite to eat" At her cheerful accept
ance his tone changed.
D you're all right. Some women
!, would be hysterical after such shake
A up. swear, l think l feel 1t more
: than you. If you were man I'd like
: to have you for a chum."
: The Chateau was uasi-roadhouse
8 unsurpassed by any city restaurant
i, and, being within an hours run by mo
j tor, 1t received a liberal patronage
3 Tips were large at the Chateau; iti
D hospitality was famous among those
+ who could afford the extravaganza o.
: midnight entertainment; and yet i
e was a quiet place. No echo Of wha
o occurred within its walls ever reached
the outside world. Sea-food, waf1es
8 and discretion were Its recognized spe
!. cialties, and people came for miles
mainly in pairs-to enjoy them.
d AS the pedestrians neared the ave
/ nue. Of naples leading up to the hous'
d they espied in the road ahead Of then
n first the dull red glow Of tail light
v then dusty license plate.
n "There's luck" Merkle calculated
d "I'll rent this car"
d In the gloom several figures wer,
9 standing, facing in the direction of tn
s Chateau, and when Merkle spoke the!
e wheeled as II startled.
!, mo, you can't hire this machine
/. What do you think this is, a cab
n stand?" answered gruff voice.
"Jlm" cried Lorelei. and ran for
o ward.
y Her breathless amazement at tn
Q meeting was no greater than he