The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-21
CHATTER VI

AttAfIEh VI
well. did you land them hlcksg
It vas Gray's driver speaking Thru
tho gloom OF early evening he was
guiding his car back toward Ran.
ser, Tho road was the same they
had come, but darkness had invested
Il with unfamiliar pcnls. or 10 Il
seemed. for the headlights threw
every rock and ridge into bold relief
and left tho holes filled with mys'
torious shadows. the vehicle strained.
l,s motor raced. lis gears FLASHED
nolsily and Il rocked along like a
dory in a boisterous tide rip. only
now then did few rods OF smooth
going permit the chauffeur 10 take
his attention from the streak ~ n.
Elimination ahead long enough to
light another clEarct, awift ma
neuger, tho dextcrlty OF which be
spoke Ions practice.
"Yes. And | made a good sale, e"
tho passenger declared with pride
he announced the size Of the Bris
kow check.
'J'ever see a dame tho size Of that
Eal1" A short laugh issued from
tho driver, shed clean IN IN vaudc.
VILE, wouldn't she9 Why. she
could lift ton. IN harness And
hocin' the garden. with their CONT
It's like a woman heard OF, they
got n big well on their farm and
she came TO town to do some shop.
pin: somebody told her she'd ought
10 buy present for hor old man.
30 sho got him new handle for
the ak. Gawdr'
A few miles farther on the fellow
confessed: Il wasn't crazy about,
comm for you tonight. Not after
u got flash at what's in that
yalise,"
Mo-"
You're takin' q chance. stranger
Nothing new about that" Gray
remained unpcrturbed His left arm
was behind the driver; with II he
chung rlgldly 20 the back OF tho
scat as tho car plunged and rolled.
Frequently We arc IN danger when
We least suspect II. Now you. for
Instance"
Me-" The man at the wheel
shot quick glance az his fare.
You probably take more chances
than you dream Of"
How soG'
eum.ml These roads arc a men.
acc 10 life aad limb. The country
IL infested with robbers
'oh. sure! That's what I had In
mind. Joy.ridin' at night with a
hattul Of diamonds Is my idea Of a
suckers amusement. or course. VIC
won't get it,"
"ot course! one never does
sure But " we should. there's
Just one thing 20 do"
"indeed2" Gray waN pleasantly
inaulsitlve. but IL waa plain that he
suffered no apprchenslous And
that Isl"
~st itch, and take your medt
cine"
Il never take medicine"
Tho chauffeur shrugged his shoul.
ders. Wen. do, when It's put
down my throat. / been stuck up"
'Reallyg'
Twice. Tame rs a house cat.
me--both times. l s'poso III get
nicked again sometime
And you won't offer any resist.
anc-g'
no, a one. Gull"
I'm relieved TO be assured Of
that"
For second tim. tho driver
flashed a glance at his companion.
/, was a peculiar remark and voiced
tn queer tone. "Yess WHY"
Because" Gray slightly shifted
his position. there was movement
OF his right hand the ono farthest
away from the man AZ the wheel
aud simultaneously his left arm
slipped from the back OF tho scat
and tightly encireled the iRtter'a
waist. He finished in a wholly un.
familiar voice. Because. my good
man. you are now held up for the
third time. and Il would distress me
TO have 20 kin YOU"
The driver uttered loud grunt. for
something sharp and hard had been
thrust deeply into that soft. sensi
tive region everything tho liver. and
now II was held there. II was un.
necessary for Gray to order the car
stopped. It's brakes squealcd. II
ceased its progress as abruptly az
II its front wheels had fetched up
against stone wall
Hey. What the"
Don't try 10 heel me with your
elbow" Gray warned. sharply. Now,
up with 'em-you know. That's nice
The faces OF the men wore close
together. Gray's was blazing. the
drivers was stiff with amazcmeni
and stamped with an lncrcdulous
grImace. Paralyzed for the moment
with sstonlshTuent. he made no re
sistsnce. not even when he felt tina,
long muscular arm relax and the
hand at the end OF II 20 searching
over his pockets.
Gray was grim. hooking: some
vibrant. evil quality TO his voice
suggested extreme malignlty Mt full
cock. like that unseen weapon the
muzzle OF which was buried beneath
the drivers short ribs. All. You
90 armed. see. a shoulder hol
ster. as suspected knew you
had nothing on this side" SEEKING
his victims upstretched right hand
with his own left. he gave Il sud
den fierce wrench that all but
snapped the wrist, and at the same
instant he reached across and
snatched tho concealed weapon from
It's resting place. Ho flung the
chauffeur's body away from him
there was a sharp click as he swift.
ly jammed the barrel OF the auto
matte back and let II fly into place
The entire maneuver had been