Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-02

tiously still, for now their quarry
glanced constantly back over his shoul-
der.
He was almost two blocks ahead
when he halted again at the curb, and
at the same moment there came to their
ears the hum and rattle Of car ap-
proaching from behind. Without Civ.
ing himself time to think McCarty
sprang out into the middle Of the ave.
nue. and swung aboard the car as IL
passed, while Dennis clung tenaciously
to the upright bar, needless Of the pro.
family of the outraged conductor, and
succeeded in scrambling up, narrowly
missing pillar Of the elevated railway
structure.
McCarty had already produced two
nickels and they made their way to the
forward part of the car, seating them
selves with hunched shoulders turned to
tho entrance.
That was narrow squeak !"
breathed Dennis. We've lost Martin
now If ever he was trailing behind.
Twill be a fine note if the car don t
stop for. your man, Mac, or If he
changes his mind :"
IF you borrowed money the way you
borrow trouble, Denny, yon'd not have
a. friend left In the world" McCarty
| DpSViNtu Hb VHT SIOWlDR GOWN
now, and as for Martin / never knew
him to get left yet. -
The car did indeed stop at the sccon1
corner, and as it resumed its way Den
mis- could not resist swift glance over
the few passengers behind.
ITS Hill, all right - he announced
in sepulchral whisper. Hes dropped
into seat by the rear door and he looks
like the ghost of himself. Something
must have happened him, the night,
since he went back to the Crcveling
house!"
'Tis what's on the mind Of him.
more like, surmiscd McCarty .grimly.
| You think twas him kiled---?''
.,l do not, McCarty interrupted
III j did I'd have my two hands on
him now, and well You know it! Don't
look around again till you hear the
ouzzer."
To Dennis edged nerves the ride
downtown seemed interminable.
Twice the buzzer sounded and twice
ms eyes nearly crossed in the haste
and eagerness of his backward glance.
bnt Hill still slumpcd in his seat with
MS head dropping over upon his breast.
rs 1t to the Bowery he's going?"
he muttered after the second disappoint-
ment. 'No wonder he stood looking for
the car! 'Tis fine walk we'd have
"Are you cripple?" demanded Nc,
Carty. Were not even to Thirty
fourth street vet, and it's not fire
we re going to, you know! There goes
the buzzer again"
| And it's him He's reaching up
with his finger on the button - Dennis
made as If to rise, but McCarty laid q
heavy hand on his knpo
Sit still and let your head fall over
as II you were asleep" he ordered
The fellows got to pass US to get out
front. Don't move till say the world -
The two relaxed figures apparently
lost in slumber were not calculated to
arrest the eye of a fellow passenger
making for the exit and Frank Hills
glance did not even include them as
he passed and descended from the car.
As it started again Dennis Strengthened
and looked quickly out Of the window.
He didn't cross the tracks; he's
heading west" he observed. "After
coming all this way are We going to ride
on--?'
But McCarty had risen and sounded
the buzzer in his turn and when the car
halted again at the next corner they
literally flung themselves off Frank
Hill was nowhere in sight, and the ave
nue. itself seemed utterly deserted.
There, you see!'' exclaimed Dennis
disguseedly as they hurried back to the
street at which the valet had alighted
II told you we'd lose him, II you't
have listened to me-there's no ent
at all in the side street either way"
For answer McCarty stopped alb.
ruptly at the corner and pointed through
the glass show window Of the all nigh
drugstore, the lights of which were tn,
only oases in the desert Of darknes.
about them. Hill was standing at tn,
cigar counter engaged in conversation
with the weary eyed clerk and it wal
evident that they were old acquaint'
ances.
Dennis and McCarty had only time t.
withdraw into neighboring doorwa,
when Hill reappeared and rounding tn,
corner started briskly westward. Th,
others followed just in time to see hin
almost collide with a second figure whicl
had been lurking in the deeper shadows
OF high stOop. Both sidesteppcd in
stantly and Hill continued his way. bu
though he walked faster even than be
fore his shoulders hunched forward de
spondently, almost furtively, and n Ger.
tain elasticity seemed gone from hi
stride.
Martini McCarty swore beneatl
his breath as the figure approached then
sheepishly. $50 twas you pulled tha
bonehcad play! You're disgrace t.
the force!"
However in the world did you ge
hcre?" Dennis demanded adding Will
sly satisfaction: You've scared of our
bird, all right! Any one could tell 9
mile off, Martin, that you were on tn,
job"
you, on the fender at the back" Mar
tin responded, chagrncd. 'Iow wa
l to know he'd run into me like that
It's just the luck Of the game. Shall
trail him, Mac? Maybe that clerk il
the drugstore Is kind Of a go-betwcei
in whatever business brought him on
Hos certainly walking as though h
was through in this ncighborhood. ="
And good reason" McCarty com
mented. However, it's no good palav
ering over. Trail him, Martin, but il h
starts uptown on a car or In n tax
he'll be on his way back to the Crcve
ling house with nothing more doing to
night as far as he Is concerned, so yol
come back here. I'm going to see wha
that clerk knows about him"
The abashcd Martin hurried off upol
his task and Dennis and McCarty re
traced their steps to the drugstore
where the latter purchased three Of th
most expensive cigars in the case and re
marked casually as he lighted one:
Thought ! saw fellow in here tina
know just now as we were passing
tall, thin fellow, dark, with a smootI
! face"
"Oh, you mean Mr.. Hildrethl" tn
clerk interrupted Dlessantly. "He AM