Evening star., 1923-08-26
THE OWL TAXI
By Herbert Footner
Doa.c company
By Herbert FOOtner
Copyright by George H. Dorsn Company

ged-not without struggle, he was
sure. The thought of his delicate
little Amy struggling In the grin Of a
brutal strength made his breast burn
lie could have strangled Blanca with.
out remorse.
Bianca's struggles were GROWING
stronger now. She was doing he1
best to bite him. 1t seemed to Greg
that Bull had had plenty of time "a
get Hickey. What could he the mat.
ter? Suppose Bulls nerve failed hin
When 1t came to entering the house
Suppose the policeman came back, g,
another pasSer-by Greg'S nerves
were at the cracking point.
Then he heard the fivver coming. II
passed and stopped just beyond tho
door. In his imagination he measured
the steps that Bull must take TO the
foot Of the ladder. Would he dare
mount it? He listened in an agon.
OF suspense. At last he heard il
creak and dared to breathe a little
But Bulls heart might fail him at the
window. His own had failed him!
The silence was too long. No, there
stood Bulls bulky figure in the bath
room doorway. A little sob Of relief
escaped Greg.
Greg beckoned him close with his
head. Indicating Amy he WHISPERED.
Pick her up. Wrap her we'll in =
blanket. and carry her TO the window.
Pass her TO Hickey. When they reach
the pavement, give me little signal
and I'll come
There's a fellow seen the ladder
and run back for policeman" Bull
whispered hoarsely
Then hustle! Hustle" whispered
Greg.
The heavy man moved with sur
prising celerity and noislessness.
Rough as was his exterior there was
gentle strain in him; he gathered
up Amy as tenderly and unselfcon-
sclously as if she had been a little
child
Blanca had ceased to struggle. and
in his eagerneSs to follow the move
| nents Of the other man Greg relaxed
his vigilance for a second. With ),
sudden cat-like twist she freed her
face from his hand. A piercing shrek
escaped her.
Greg quickly silenced her, but the
mischief was done. After a seconds
breathless silence an uproor arose
through the house. The nurse ran to
the door and ratified it and beat upon
IL other doors opened and slammed,
and running feet were heard through
out the house. In different parts of
the house the insane patients infected
with the excitement began to scream.
Blanca. encouraged by the sounds
of approaching help, began to strug-
gle with redoubled energy. She
fought with every fiber of her being,
than q match for her in strength, but
scarcely in quickness. She got her
head free again. and screamed:
They're taking her out of the VIM
dow. Go to the street"
voice in the hall said: Break in
the door,
Running footsteps receded down the
hall.
Bull had disappeared with Amy. II
was no time for Greg TO linger If
Bun did make him a signal, he
couldn't hear 1t in that uproar. Re-
leasing Blanca he ran for the bath
room window. Springing up. she fol-
lowed. screaming necessarily.
Bull was barely over the sill, and
Gregg had to wait. Blanca clawed at
his back. but he scarcely felt her He
heard the door of the bedroom go in
with crash. and waited no longer.
Thrusting Blanca out of the way he
scram bled over the sill. He and Bull
landed in a heap together on the
stoop. Gregg pulled the ladder from
the window. just as hands reached
out 20 grab it.
Hickey. bearing the inert figure of
Amy, had all but reached the cab.
In both the houses now they were
wired doors. The fat doctor in
neglige attire was at a parlor win
dow. Throwing it up. he let himself
over the sill. and dropped into the
areaway. Other men followed. Gregg
and Bull ran for the cab. From the
more running feet and the shrilling
sound of police whistle.
Into the f1ivver they piled somehow,
anyhow. Hickey had dropped Amy
on the seat and was already at the
wheel. As Greg and Bull laid hands
on the car. he let the clutch engage.
The car sprang ahead. The police
man, seeing them likely to escape.
fired his revolver in the air. Hickey
grunted and pulled the throttle lever
all the way down. The exhaust
roared. A second shot struck the
asphalt behind them and richocetting
made dent in the back of the car.
third shot went wild. Then they
passed out of range.
They breasted the little rise and
plunged down the other side Here
they met the private patrolman run
ming toward them. Blossom and Gin
ger were not to be seen. There was
narrowing moment as they passed
this officer. Would he shoot? But if
he had gun. he was too confused to
draw II. He flung his nightstick at
the wheels OF the t1ivver but it
caromed harmlessly off They reached
the corner and turned.
After brief mad course around
many corners they reached one ot
sign of any pursuing car and they
slowed down. They breathed freely
again.
Greg said. grimly: We'll. if YOU
feliows wanted excitement, 1 hope
you're satisfied"
Il am" said Hickey. fervently. Me
Tor a rest cure. now
Makes me feel like a bow again
chuckled Bull.
(Confinuad in T~or,orro,,..n S..