The Washington herald., 1921-05-15

>OISE HSWSW
street, more often on the wrong. aideA In
large measure BY the fact that the dog with
the vtcaousiy whipping chain w.s cutting .
wide sw.th in his yeipins progress.
It was with . sigh Of relief that they turned
on two wheels only into the wide stretch Of
BucarenL Here the car began to gain for the
first time in the race. and when 1t had drawn
close TO the fleeing dog. the driver eased up
on ths accelerator and stated his terms
Ridenour did not stop to haggie. He met the
demand at once and added a hidalgo for good
measure. stating that the mans wits were
worth twice the price. The nattery and the
coin had an immediate effect on the speed Of
the nivv~. 1t shot forward At Q rate that
dwarfed its former attainment. struck the
nrst Of the half dozen caf rails on Chapui-
tspsc avenue. cleared the rest on the bounce,
and two minutes later came to q grinding
stop with . mud guard and one headlight
buried IN the plaster Of q house At q sharp
corner around which the dog had whir,ed
.ssnor.- cried the driver, he has turned
into La Romita, where We cannot follow
Ridenour knew that the man spoke the
truth, for In his many wanderinss he had
explored the extraordinary maze of nlthy,
narrow alleys, an apparently without exit,
that made up the Plazuela de Ia Romita and
Its surroundings. He remembered the un-
usually sordid character Of Its environment
and felt . sudden sinking Of theIheart to
depths never before sounded in his expert
ence. Cursins his folly aloud, he started to
leave the car, but was arrested by q whis-
pered word from his chance companion.
"senor." said the driver. you don't know
me, but know you. You are q man TO trust
You seem very anxious to follow that beast
Of . dog. Double the price and I will take
you to the house where he 10 going. He will
not stop in the Plaxuela- However, IL Is
understood that will not walt once you are
At the house. 1t 10 also Agreed that you do
not betray me-
Ridenour asked no questions. but paid. He
helped to back the nivver from the wall. the
stalled engine was started without difnculty.
and In another moment the car was on its
way around the outer limits Of the P1azuela
and into one Of the streets Of the fine resi-
Dental quarter Of the Colonia Roma II drew
up before palatial dwelling which the driver
indicated with a scarcely perceptible gesture.
Here he murmured
A look Of incredulity filled Ridenour's face
as he glanced at the pretentious house. but Il
quickly turned to one Of eager expectancy at
the sound Of q dogs yelping a. though for
admittanee At some rear door. He leaped
from the car which Immediately got under
way again. hurried down q blind alley At the
side Of the residence to an iron gate that
stood ajar. and looked IN The dog was
seated on his haunches his eyes fixed on
what was evidently the kitchen door. Al
regular intervals b, threw up his head and
barked.
The house appeared to be deserted. The
discovery was disappointing to Ridenour As
wen as perplexins until he recollected that
he and the dog had covered the ground from
the Thieves Market at q terrific pace. Imme-
diately he realized the importance Of setting
his stage before the arrival Of Juan and his
accomplice with Miss Estes He entered the
gate. walked unhurriedly to the door. tried II.
found It locked. and promptly burst It open
with his knee. The dog rushed by him into
the interior Of the house and from room to
room. his tail wagginE at . great rate. his
nose close to the floor.
Ridenour discovered q large pantry which
was without other exit than its door. The
dog entered It presently and was forthwith
locked In out of harms way. For a few min
utes he rebelled vociferousiy, but before long
his barking was reduced to q low whine and
his activity to an attempt 70 scratch his
way out In the meantime Ridenour had ex
plored the rest Of the house. found Il entirely
abandoned, and had taken his stand in ar
windows he could command a view OF ap
proach either by the blind alley. which evi
IDENTIFY was connected in some way with tht
P1axuela. or by the main street.
It was along the latter thoroughfa-e thai
q eoche, one Of the short waisted. deepl,
hooded victorias which ply the streets o.
Mexico City for hire presently made its sp
pearance The carriage was almost at th'
front Of the house before he could make eu
IN its depths the figure Of Miss Estes appar
entity sdtting back in repoee between her tw'
aseailants. The blood began to boil IN hi
veins for he was not deceived. He knew tha
the sirrs ankles were pinioned under tn,
legs Of the two men and that she was beinl
D.