New Britain herald., 1923-03-22
The Way Madge's Captors Were
Nearly CaptiIred

AS the put-put oil the approaching
motorcycle sounded closer the bie
man looked out of the rear window
OF the car.
Its cop, all right" he said, "and
coming like the devil"
The yashmak- yeiled woman spoke
for the first time in husky contral-
to, patiently feigned, but which re-
moved the last doubt ! had that she
was In reality Grace Draper.
quick that robe !" she said, I'VE
may be able to get by with saying
she's III. II not, you know what to
do
There was a significance III her
manner which, made my blood con-
geal, although I did not know wheth-
err the approaching motor policeman
or was the subject OF her sinister
reference. But even through my
fright, with the odd irritation which
trivial things sometimes bring, / re-
scented her continued incognito And
even as the big man unfoded the
motor robe she had indicated, spoke
sneeringly.
10 spare tiic
voice, Grace" said. 'rhe rest Of 1t
is probably necessary from your
standpoint, but recognized you in the
tea-room the other day, so you may
as we'll"
I never finished the sentence, for
as the big man sprang toward me
with the blanket, pinionins my arms.
Grace Draper forced gag between
my teeth, and fastened it with
swiftness and deftness which spobe
volumes for her practice in such
work
Wrap the robe around her close
to cover the gag" Grace Draper di-
rected. Just her eyes showing, that's
right. Now lean on me. darling"
she mimicked while, her hateful arms
went around me, pressing me so close
to her that l could not move my
arms. ITS Just awful that you have
had this terrible attack on the road,
but We'll let you to the hospital just
as quickly as we can. Don't worry,
sweetheart -
"You Know What to Do?"
Careful" the big man warned in
a low voice. He Just shot by, giving
George the signal to stop. He's slow
ing up now and coming back
Are you ready for him? There
was something coldly menacing in
both words and voice.
Yes. Give me the dope again"
IF he makes it simple speeding
with either George or you. give the
names agreed on, accept your sum-
mons if you size him up as not to be
squared-I'll give you the cue on that
and let him go. But if he tries to
poke his nose into this other bust
poke with her elbow-'you know
what to do
Nobody better, my dear" he re-
piled with flourish, and then the
motorcycle had drawn up beside the
car and we could hear the policeman
interrogating George.
where's your operators license?"
George fumbled in his coat and
produced it.
"Humph ~ He made note of the
number and began to write sum-
mons.
There was no motion or sound II
could make to attract his attention, |
and with the sinister utterances OF
Grace Draper and the big man in my
ears, / doubt whether / would have
given a signal if l could. l had no
desire to be responsible even indi-
rectly for the death or manning of
the policeman, and my eyes, the only
part of my head or person left I'M
swathed in the pinioning folds of the
blanket, showed me an ugly-looking
automatic in the big mans hand, con-
ceaed by his overcoat.
had been hoping against hope that
a policeman would come to my aid, |
With the menace of that weapon |
haunting me, found myself hoping |
that the officer would go away with
out looking into the rear Of the car.
But he was evidently incensed at the |
speed of the car, and he said sternly /
when he had finished writing the sum-
mons:
"A clear sixty, and if I'm not mis-
taken you're an old offender. I'll
take. pleasure in seeing that you get
the limit. And | want to see the
owner of this car. I'd like to look
i'm,