The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-10-18
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H Louis
Joseph Vance


The ear gathered way. noiseiessfy
slipped tho gear shlft into the fourth
speed and bore heavily on the aocel.
orator. They were making forty
miles an hour whom they struck tho
level and Numbered past tho group.
A glimpse Of startled faces. the
scream OF n man who had strayod
sncautiousiy into tho roadway and
stopped there. apparently petrified
by the peril that bore down upon
hun without lights or any other
warning. until one Of the forward
Tenders struck and hurled him aside
like straw-and only tho night OF
tho open road lay before them. Jules
touched tho headlight switch and
opened the exhaust. Above tho roar
ing OF tho latter Lanyard fancied
no could hear a faint rafting sound.
He looked back and smiled grimly.
Sharp. short flames OF orange and
scarie, were stabbing tho darkness
Somebody had opened fire with an
automatic pistol Sheer waste
OF ammunitioni
The pace waxod terrific on . road.
like 20 many roads OF France. ap.
parontly interminabis ana straic at
On either hand endless ranks OF
poriars ratified like loose palings OF
some tremendous picket fence. And
yet. long before the road turned.
Lanyard. staring astcrn as he kneit
on tho rear seat with arms crossed
on tho folded top. saw tho two white
eyes OF the gray car swing into
view and start In pursuit Quick
work. he called n.
lie crawicd forward ana ccmmu-
nicated his news. shoutins 70 make
himself heard.
Don't ease up unless yvu have
to-" he counseiedi don't think we
dare give them an tnch."
Back at his post Of observation.
he watched. hoping against hope.
while the car iungcd and torc like
a mad thing thru tho night. snoring
up grades. screaming down them.
drumming across the levels. chatter.
ms wildly thru villages and ham
lets: while the moon rose and gath
cred strength and made the road
streaming river Of milk and Ink.
While his heart sank as minute suc-
ceeded minute. milo followed mile.
and ever the lights OF tho pursuing
car. lost 90 sight from time to time.
reappearcd with a brighter. flcrccr
glow. and conviction forced itself
home that they were being grad
uaily but surely overhaulcd.
He took this intelligence to the
ear OF Jules Tho chauffeur an
swered only with worried shake
of his head that satd too plainly
he was doing his best. extracting
every ounce Of power from tho en-
gins.
I'll luck amhushed them IN tho
streets of . stable town. iss name
unknown TO Lanyard. whore an
other car. driven lnexpertiy. rolled
out Of . side street and stalled In
their path Tho emergency brake
aved than . ooliision; but there
ware not six inches between the ewo
whom the touring car stopped dead,
and minutes ware lost before the
other got under vay and shsy ware
able 20 proceed
Less than three hundrsA ysrds
separated puryusd and pursusr -
they raced out thru open fields once
moro. And foot b. foot this lead
w~s bs.ng insxorabty out down.
In the seat beside the driver Of
shs gray car . man rose and.
steadyinG himself By holding onto
tho windshicid. poured out the con-
tents Of an automatic. presumably
hoping to puncturs ths tire Of the
quarry. A bullet bored . neat hole
thru the Windshield between the
heads Of Lame Dciorrns and Jules.
Tho woman slipped down upon tho
floor and Juies crouohed over tho
wheel Lanyard fingered his auto
matte but held its fire against a
moment when he could be moro sure
Of his arm
Instead. he turned 70 the lunch
hamper and opened IL LANES pro-
vssioning had beon ample for a
party thrice their number. In the
bottom OF the basket lay SIX pint
bottles Of champagne. four Of them
unopened Lanyard took them 10
the rear seat--end found the grey
car had drawn up 10 within nifty
yards Of It's prey. Making a pace
better than seventy miles por hour,
u would not dare swerve.
The first empty bottle broke 20
one side. the second sauarsly BE-
tween the front wheels. He grnspcd
tho first fun bottle by tho neck and
felt that It's weight promised moro