Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-24
CHAPTER XIV
The Ride

robn Rruce turned the corner' suu,
~ ornosite side Of the street. orew
Ss.k rnder the shelter Of door porcn
~S.re he could command view OF tns
sntrance to Paul veniza's house. .,,,.S AS
nov he stood motionless, waitihH WI" .ha
cold patience. his eyes nxeo ~, IN ,,.as
doorway across the street; ne tSe
there because CranK was eitner AZ nr
uresent moment within the hou IL
presently would come to the nouse: esss.,,ne
was nearly 8 o'clock. Inc olI .t"r. the
pawn shop was drawn op 0''
door. ,ov No
Man vss needed. He was simply walt
"f Iss aol sye. S had not left the doorway.
7 anddeniy. tense, he leaned little IoI.
.J T'he door opened. No; 1t was
criv n. wkinsi He relaxed again.
Gniy Hawkins! John Bruce's iaSe
srs1a little sterner, hts lips nttle
srore tightly compressed. Only haw
Eirs-only an old man who swayeu
]hsr. outside the door, and whose lace
Cas covered with his hands:
L He watched Hawkins. Inc oia caI I,,
nan moved blindly along the slae"uln a. :
for the few steps that took MIN 10 'ne NC
corner, and turning the corner OUT y.
sisht Of the house, sat down oh III uIe
edee Of the curb, and with ms shou,
ders sunk forward, buried MS lace q"
his hands again. ,;s
6nsers. in his pocket, snuggled curiousiy
srcnnd the revolver that was hidden
there. He wanted to 20 to that old oent
6eure there in its misery and despair, :,
Who was fighting now so obviously u, ~
1t q grip upon himself. But he dlo
~ move. He could not tell Hawkins
What he meant to do. ....
SWere they minutes or were tney
hours that passed! Again the fron'
door Of Paul Veniza's house opened,
and again John Bruce leaned tensely
1Crward. But this time he did not re-
jex. Claire! His eyes drank in the
Slim, little, dark garbed figure, greedy
That no smallest gesture, no movement.
10 single line of face or form should
Ascape him. 1t was perhaps the last
3ime that he would see her. He would
Aot see her in his prison cell-he would
rot let her 60 there.
A queer sound issued from his throat,
strange and broken little cry. she
was gone now. She had crossed the
Sidewalk and entered the travelling
bawn shop. The curtains were down,
ard she was hidden from sight. And
40r a moment there seemed blur and
hist before John Bruces eyes -- then
Hawkins, still around the corner, still
Nth cr0uched shoulders, still with his
3scs hidden in his hands, took form
and grew distinct again. And then
After a littleSwhile, Hawkins rose
7iowly, and came back along the street
and climbed into the drivers seat OF
the travelling pawn shop, and sat FUN
Bling at the wheel with his hands.
q The door of Paul Veniza's house
Spened for the third time--and now
.SUohn Bruce laughed in low, grim
Way, and his hand, hugging the revolver
his pocket, tightened and grew wise
ke In its grip uDon the weapon. II
6as Crang at last
Int from his pocket--empty.
Not in front of Claire!
W He swept his hand across his fore.
9ead. 1t was as though sudden shock
Had aroused him to some stark reality
- which he had been strangely oblivi'
Tus. Not in front of Claire! Claire
vas in the car there. He felt himself
4ewildered for moment. Hawkins
Had said nothing about driving Claire
II Crang's voice reached him from across
She street:
q IAN right, Hawkins Go ahead!"
81 Where was Paul Veniza? Crang haG
ztet into the car. and the car was NOV.
ng forward. Wasn't Paul Veniza go.
Zng, too?
ID Well. It did not matter, did it? Grams
~rss there. And It was a long way tC
Staten Island, and before then chance
would come. must come; he would make
4ne somehow, and !,
"a John Bruce ran swiftly out into the
xntrset, and, as the car turned the cor
her, swung himself lightly and silently
IN beside Hawkins. Crang would not
Know. The curtained panel at the back
ysSf the drivers seat hid the interior Of
4 Che car from view.
G Hawkins turned his head, stared into
5ohn Bruce's face for an instant. half
IN 8 startled. half In curiOusly per-
ISleSed way, made as though to speak
"a then, without 4 word, gave his at
9 Ien1jon TO the wheel again.
~ car ratified on down the block.
a j6Sn Bruce, ~ silent as Hawkins.
11rH1 ahead. On the ferry! Yes. that
1SS ~ u wasza long way. TO Staten
4 - Sn1. Claire would not stay cs!opsd
y W n, i, - ~ err below she world -