The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-16
CHAPTER XIII
Johnnie Comes Into His Own.

Johnnie Comes Into His Own.
When Clay shot off ut tangent
from the car and ceased to function rs
a passenger, Johnnie made an effort
to descend and join his friend, but ali
ready the taxi was travelling ut
speed that made this dangerous. He
leaned out of the open door and shout
ed to the driver.
"say, femme out, doggone you. !
wantta get out right here"
The chauffeur paid not the least at
tention to him., He skidded round a
corner, grazing the curb, and put his
foot on the /accelerator.I The car
jumped forward, sweeping down the
wet street, tnow and again skidding
dangerously 1t swung into Fourth
avenue, slowing to take the curve AT
the widest sweep Of the arc Johnnie
stepped down. His feet slid from un-
der him and he rolled to the curb
across the Iwet asphalt. Slowly he got
up and tested himself for broken
bones. HE was sure he had dislocated
few hi s and it took him some time
to persuade himself he was all right,
except fur some bruises.
But Iuhnnie, free, had no idea what
to do. He was as helpless as Johnnie
imprisoned in the flying cab. OF what
Clay's phln had been he had not the
remotest idea. Yet he could not 60
home and do nothing. He must keep
searching. But where? One thing
stuck iH his mind. His friend had
mentioned that he would like to get
chanc to call the police to find out
whether Kitty had been rescued. He
was anxious on that point himself. At
the first cigar store he stopped and
was put on the wire with headquar-
tiers. He learned that a car\suppOsed
to be the one wanted had been driven
into Central park by the police few
minutes earlier.
JOHNNIE 's mind carried him on
straight dine to the simplest decision.
He ran across to- Fifth avenue and
climbed Unto bus! going uptown. At
the Sewenty-secorh street entrance
Johnnle left the bus and plunged into
the park. The inpish gods who de-
light in turning upside down the best
laid plans Of mice anth menWere work
ing overtime tonight. They arranged
it that u girl covering: amongHhe wet
bushes bordering an unfreh,ented
path heard the "Hi-yk-yl" Of Arizo-
ia and gave aifaint cry for help:4rrrhat
call reached Johnnie and brought hlm
| on the run.
A man beside the girl jumped .up
with a Snarl, gun in hand.
But the Runt had caught sight tof
Kitty. A file Of fixed bayonets could
not have kept him from trying to res
cue her. Hs. dived through the brush
like a football tackler.
A gun bs,rked. The, little man did
not even know it. wand the thug
went down together, rolled over,
clawed flriously at each other, and
got to their feet simultaneously. But
the cowpuncher held the gun now.
The crook glared at him for a moment,
and bolted for the sufcty of the
bushes in wild flight. ~ ! u -''''',.
Johnnie fired once, then forgot all
about the, private little war he had
started. For his arms were full Of a
sobbing| Kitty. who chung to him while
she wept and talked and exclaimed>all
in breath. oVFrrx} W " J;tf',
II knew you'd come, Johnnie. u
knew you 'would-you Tor Clay. They
left me here with him (while they got
away from the police.| ..N..'.. Oh, I've
been so scared. didn't know--1
thought"
as all right. s all fright. ,li'r girl.
Don't you cry, Kitty. Me EN- Clay
won't let 'em hurt you none. We sure
won't"
She nestled. Closer and Johnnie's
heart lost beat. He had become
aware Of dull pain fin the shoulder
and Of something wet trickling down
his shoulder But what is one \little
bullet in Your geogrs ply when! the
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