The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-12
CHAPTER. XVIII

It was just about the time that
Charlie had gained from the Prn-
cess the clew which pointed to the
sanitarium, that Hope and Kelsey in
Bristow's high-powered car went
crashing through the hedge and
sweeping down the road.
Their plan had been to drive west,
change the car at some garage, first
disabling 1t, and then proceed in an
other less conspicuous one to New
York.
But Kelsey noticed that she had
headed east, which was well, as it
ton. Half a mile beyond the hos.
pital, though, she turned into a mar
row lane, and he soon saw that by
circuitous routes she was now max.
ing her way west.
Neither of them spoke. Crouched
over the wheel. Hope drove-a
valkrie of driver, and for the time
nothing more, every fiber of her bent
on that. And in the first ecstasy OF
escape, Kelsey gave no thought 10
the dangers still before them
Twilight was falling now. AS they
whirled on, following tangled and tor.
tuous by-paths. he could no longer
see ahead of him.
With a twist of the wheel Hope
brought them out of lane they had
been following through the scrub
oak onto a more travelled highway.
and ahead Of them he saw the lights
- II y
stopped, rubbing her numb hands.
run ahead and reconnoiter," she
said. land I will get ready to put the
carburetor out of commission. il the
coast is clear. Then, with another
car. we Will make a detour around
that bend and strike into the main
road
He was already out of the car,
and starting OH his way.
Two or three minutes passed and
then he came running back There's
a car there" he painted. There we, e
men in it-Bristow's chauffeur The
garage men were gathered around 1t.
We haven't a second to lose They're
after u.s.
slowed the machine sharply around.
They whizzed down the road and pack
into the scrub-oak again. He heard
shouts behind them, and the loud
honkingof a horn, with an answering
honk-honk to the right and left-the
baying of the pack
Kelsey looked back, and as ne cid
On
ing road ard took after them. 1t
gained steadily.
They've got US pocketed," he said.
Not yet" The wind blew back her
words to him.
They had come to a point where the
road forked in three directions. She
turned into the first one.
Wen try for our old house now"
she said. I'VE can get to the back
entrance by short cut through the
woods just beyond here"
Our old house?" He had not
heard of At before. But the car. They
will track us by that, no matter where
we CO."
Let them" she said briefly, and
with what struck him as remarkable
sang froid under the circumstances.
He looked back again.
They've followed, '%he said. They're
on us now"
The words were hardly out of his
month when theer was a rush of
wheels, the purr of an engine and the
ursuing car shot by them to draw up
ahead in the middle of the road.
There was nothing for them but to
stop. They could not hope to pass in
that narrow lane, and it was equally
impossible to turn.
AS the car passed them Kelsey had
made out that there were two men
in it. One OF them leaped over the
side and came running back.
Kelsey fiexed his muscles and waited.
he man hurryirg toward Them was a
big, burly fellow, but Kelsey was no
lightweight himself Armed or un-
armed. he was ready for him, and
then he'd take on the other, both at
the same time, for that matter.
The man held something in his
hand, but it was not a gun.
That you, DR.. Bristown?" he said,
coming close and speaking N a harsh.
husky whisper. He halted, his jaw
falling. What the
Hope leaned forward. ST am Miss
Copley," she said. II wasn't quite
sure Of the doctors directions
"Oh? Miss Copley?" His turbulence
gave way to relief. He thrust bulky
envelope into her hand without a
word, and turned back to his own
car.
Better let us get piece ahead"
he muttered over his shoulder. I've
got an idea we're being trailed. We
just shook off a couple of other
cars"
He was gone. The car in front
started and whizzed on. There was
no time for question or comment, no
time to express wouder at this
strange incident Hone had throwr