Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-28
CHAPTER XIX.
a Trip by Night and a Late Arrivs

Shortly after shutdown that we
ming. the Rushcroft company evacu-
ated Harris Tavern. They were de-
,ayed by the irritating and, to Mr..
2ushcroft, objectionable behavior Of
two oficious gentlemen, lately arrived,
who insisted politely but firmly on
prying into the past, present and fu-
ture history Of the several members Of
the organization, including the new
Stacker"
Barnes had devised a very clever
plan for getting Miss Cameron away
from the tavern without attracting I'M
due attention. She waS to leave in
one of the automobiles that he had en-
gagged TO convey the players to
Crowndale, where they We're to
"show." In case of detention or in
Quiry, she was To pose as Il stage
struck young woman who had OBJ
tained a place with the company at
thu last moment through his influence.
When the hour can't for the depar-
ture from Harris Tay crn he deliberate
ly engaged the two secret service men
in conversation in the taproOm. Miss
Cameron left the house by the rear
door and was safely enSconced in Pc
ter's automobile long before he shook
hands with the "rat-catchers' and
dashed out to join her. Tommy Gray's
car. occupied by the four players, was
moving away from the door rs he
sprang in beside her and slammed the
door.
Peters efforts to stay behind Tom
my's venerable but surprisingly ener-
getic car were the cause of many a
gasp and shudder from the couple who
sat behind him in the bounding car.
He had orders tn keep back of Tommy
but never tn lose sight of his tail light.
Are you there" he whispered.
yes. Isn't it jolly. running away
like this? 1t must be wonderfully ex-
citing to be a criminal, always dodg-
ing and"
Ssh! Even a Limousine may have
ears!'
But if the limousine had possessed
a Thousand ears they would have been
rendered useless in the stormy racket
made by Peters muller and the thun-
derous rOar of the exhaust as the car
got under way.
Sixty miles lay between them and
Crowndale. Tommy Gray guaranteed
that the distance could be covered in
three hours. ever Over the vile noun
tain roads. Ten o'clock would find
them at the Grand Palace hotel, none
the worse for wear, provided (he al
ways put it parenthetically) they lived
to tell the tale! The luggage had
gone on ahead of them earlier in the
day.
Soon after ten o'clock they entered
the town Of Crowndale and drew up
before the unattractive portals of the
Grand Palace hotel. An arc lamp
swinging above the entrance shed n
pitiless light upon the dreary, Godfor-
saken hostelry with the ironic name.
Miss Cameron was warmly con
sciOus of the thrill that had come into
her blood when he carried her up the
stairs in his powerful arms, d%isdaining
the offer of assistance from the sud
denly infatuated Tommy Gray.
Rehearsal at eleven sharp" an
nounced RushcrOft. "Letter-perfect,
every one Of you. No guessing. BY
the way, Miss-er-'pon my soul, l
don't believe l got your name"
".JOnfs," said the new member,
sbamelessly.
Barnes went down to the dingy
lobby. A single, half-hearted electric
bulb shed its feeble light on the desk,
In front of which stood a man regis
tering under the sleepy eye of the
night clerk.
Barnes was turning away when n
familiar voice assailed him.
Whirling, he looked into the face Of
a man who stood almost at his elbow
the sharp, impassive face of Mr..
SprOuse.