Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-25

every one in town came when in trou-
BILE.
In almost no time, SO accurately did
he keep his fingers on the fevered pulse
of Metropolis. Macleod had found out
that Gertrude had been seen driving
away from the company's grounds with
some one in Garretson's car, probably
Garretson himself. Jackson had been
seen hurrying down the street. Some
one else had seen Ida Snedden in jack
sons car, alone.
Meanwhile. over the wire. Macleod
had sent out descriptions of the four
people and the two cars. in the hope
of intercepting them before they could
be plunged into the obscurity of any
nearby city. Not content with that.
Macleod and Kennedy started out in
the formers car. while l climbed in
with Snedden. and we began sys-
tematic search of the roads out OF
Metropolis.
AS we sped along 1 could not help
somehow. the strange disappearance
must have something to do with the
mysterious phantom destroyer. I did
not tell even Snedden about the little
that Kennedy had discovered. for l had
learned that it was best to let Craig
himself tell, at his own time and In his
own way. But the man seemed fran
tic in his search. and l could not help
the impression that there was some
thing. perhaps only a suspicion. that
he knew which might shed some light.
We were coming down the river. or
rather. the bay. after fruitless search
preaching the deserted Old Grove
Amusement Park, to which excursions
used. years ago, to come In boats. No
one could make 1t pay. and 1t was
been some hint that Garretson's racer
might have disappeared down this I'M
frequented river road.
AS we came to turn in the road. we
their car. coming up. Instead Of keep
ing on, however, they turned into the
grove. Kennedy leaning far over the
running board as Macleod drove slow
ly. following his directions, as though
Craig were tracing something.
With a hurried exclamation of sur
prise. Snedden gave our car the gas
and shot ahead, swinging around after
them. They were headed, following
some kind of tire tracks, toward an old
merrygo-round that was dismantled
and all boarded up. They heard US COM
ing and stopped.
HAS any one told you that Garrett
sons car went down the river road. too"
called Snedden. anXiously.
'No: but some one thought he saw
Jackson's car come down here" called
back Macleod.
"Jackson's?" exclaimed Snedden.
Maybe both are right" I ventured.
came closer. What made you
turn in here?'
Kennedy thought he saw fresh tire
tracks running into the grove"
We We're all out of our cars by this
time. and examining the soft roadway
with Craig. 1t was evident to any one
that a car had been run in. and not SO
very long ago, in the direction of the
merry-go-round.
We followed the tracks on foot bend
ing about the huge circle Of a building
until We came to the side away from
the road The tracks seemed to run
Kennedy approach and touched the
boards They Were loose. Some one
had evidently been there, had taken
them down. and put them up. In fact
by the marks on them. it seemed as
though he had made a practice of do
ing
Macleod and Kennedy unlocked the
boarding. while Snedden looked on in a
sort of daZe. They had taken down only
two or three sections. which indicated
that that whole side might similarly
he removed. when l heard low. star
tied exclamation from Snedden
We peered in. There, in the half
light of the gloomy interior, we could
see car. Before we knew it Shredder
had darted past us. An instant later
! distinguished what his more sensitive
the car, motionleSs.
Ida" he cried.
There was answer.
"She-she's dead!' he shouted.
IL was Only 100 true. mere was lda
Snedden. seated in Jacksons car in the
old deserted building, all shut up
dead.
Yet her face was as pink as IL she
were alive and the blood had been
whipped into her cheeks by walk in
the cold wind.
We looked at one another. at loss.
How did she get there-and why? She
must have come there voluntarily No
one had seen any one else with her in
the car.
Snedden was now almost beside him.
self.
'Misfortunes never come singly," he