San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01


prisoner. too Surprised TO profit 10y
his sudden advantage, eased him into
chair. "Some day-doctor told Inc
its going TO quit ticking-like a
busted watch"
Somehow Maynard found himself
overlooking with sympathy for his late
enemy. He tore open the mans col
lar: flung up n rickety window.
I'm going for a docto-!" he heard
himself saying.
But before the words had passed
his lips, he realized thar futility.
Guthrie had slumped to the floor, his
arms spread wide. his head cooked
at an impossible angle; and even as
Maynard hesitated, the laborel breath
ing ceased.
Guthrie was dead.
Had it been possible to help
Guthrie. Maynard would have helped
him. even at the cost of his own
freedom; of that he was conscious,
with curious thrill. He had plan
ned to fight the man, to injure him,
if need be, with what consequences
might follow. A higher power had
taken the matter out of his hands,
had struck more forcibly than ever
he would have dared strike.
Flight was out of the question.
They had been seen to enter the
restaurant together. Were he to leave
alone, not ten minutes would elapse
before the beginning of the pursuit.
Were he TO run away. Guthries death
would be laid at his door, and no
amount of explanation could save
him from this graver charge. Flight
meant confessiOn-confession of any
thing and everything.
But if he remained, his position
would be hardly better. His version
of the story might be accepted until
an examination of the dead mans
effects showed him to be an officer
of the law and further investigation
disclosed Maynard as fugitive from
justice. He was guilty of one crime:
the law would hold him capable of
any other.
The door opened suddenly. He
wheeled. 1t was the waiter, bringing
their coffee. On the instant May
nard's resolution was taken.
"Send for the police!r he COM
manded gruffly. and slammed the
door in the walters face.
He smiled as the footsteps died out
along the uncarpeted corridor. The
solution, the logical solution, had
come to him as in a flash of light
ming. Five hundred miles from home,
Guthrie might be as unknown here
as Maynard himself.
Swiftly he bent over the dead man.
and emptied his pockets. Swiftly he
exchanged their contents with his
own. He sighed with satisfaction MS
in a trouser pocket he found the
object he most sought. the little gold
shield which identified the bearer.
Hardly had he finished when the
door burst open.
Maynard exhibited the shield with
composure which he was far from
feeling.
I'm Guthrie, from Madison he
explained. 81 arrested this man an
hour ago. He's dropped dead"
The police officer nodded as clamly
as if prisoners were in the habit OF
dropping dead every hour.
ARRESTED him here?" he asked.
"Yes," said Maynard. bumped in
to him on the street. Wasn't look
ing for him. but recognized him. He's
wanted back home"
The officer scanned the dead mans
face curiously. mo spring chicken,
is he? Guess he's given the police
enough trouble in his time"
Somehow Maynard felt unable to
join in the libel.
The police officer turned to him
with interest.
$50 you're Guthrie? We've been
expecting YOU"
Maynard's heart sank. He thought
it best to answer with a noncommit-
tai, "Yes?"
The officer nodded.
"We've got the man safe under lock
and key, waiting for you to come with
the warrant. And / don't mind say
ing" he added emphatically, "that
we'll be mighty glad to get rid of
him. We've had some tough custo-
mers in this little town, but not many
so tough this bird.
Maynard pulled out the sheaf of
papers which he had removed from
the detectives pocket and leafed
through If with elaborate nonchal-
ance. A large, -official-looking enve-
lope seemed promising. He opened it.
"That's right" said the police Of
ficer, taking the single document it
fortaf,,aI Lo-I Il
warrant of extradition.' You can't
serve 1T any too soon to suit u.s."
Nothing remained for Maynard, the
impOster, but to play the role through,
to the finish. He, would accept Gus
tOdy of the man, and escort him out
of the city. Once safe from pursuit,
he would turn him loose, and resume
his own interrupted flight.
A sudden thought came TO him be-
fore he left the room. Guthrie had
not quailcd at the thought of guard
ing not one, but two able-bodied
prisoners during a five-hundred-m
trip!
A wholly involuntary phrase of
admiration for the lion-hearted old
man came to his lips: "By George,
he certainly had nerye!"
The police officer caught his glance
and smiled.
wait till you see Toselli," he sug-
gested. You'll need still more of it,"
Maynard's story was accepted with
out suspicion. The dead man, he ex-
planned to the local authorities. was
one Maynard. fugitive from justice.
He gave cautious details. 1t had
been a matter of juggling books; now
the man had gone where such books
as We're kept might not be ingglcd