Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-10-17
Making His
Getaway
BY MORRIS SCHULTZ
e, 1893, Western Newspaper Union.)

as he sped in his car along the pike
at four in the morning. He had al
ready put twenty-eight miles between
himself and Royceville, and had plenty
Of time to catch the limited.
In his suitcase he had a hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, which he
had distracted from the bank vaults.
| There had been not the slightest diff
/ Guilty about it. He had sent the watch
! man away on some well-reasoned err
rand, had distracted the money, and
walked out. The theft would not be
J discovered until eight o'clock. Plenty
Of time! Oh. plenty Of time!
He was thinking Of the little para
disc he had planned for himself in
Europe. At the same time he knew
! that If he had the chance, he would
replace the money and 60 back to
Royceville.
| But that was impossible, for he could
not send old Martin away again. at
five in the morning
Five oclock-six. It was growing
light Griggs was heading for noun
famous district, beyond which lay the
large town where he meant to catch
the train. He saw another car ap-
preaching the single road from the
ROyceville direction. The two roads
Joined into one that went straight
through the pass.
And as he watched it a singular fear
began to come over him that this car
was in pursuit of him.
1t was a foolish idea. only 1t was go
ing at such a rate-and why should
anyone be travelling from ROyceville
at that hour of the morning.
Moreover, it looked to Griggs as if
the two cars would reach the fork of
the two roads simultaneously.
Making his calculations, Griggs
slowed down. He wanted the other
car to get ahead of him Then he
would be able to shake off that absurd
fear of his.
To his dismay the other car began to
slow down perceptibly, too There
upon Griggs threw on speed. The
other car slowed down still more.
Griggs became frantic. 1t, was evil
dent now that the other car was in
pursuit of him and wanted him to be
first at the pass He slowed down
still more, and the other car, after
making transparent efforts to ma
newer, threw in a burst of speed.
The result of all this maneuvering
was that the two cars seemed likely to
reach the pass together. Griggs began
to crawl He was willing to face his
pursuers if necessary but he was not
going to get ahead of them and he at
their mercy.
He saw red He was desperate,
frenzied He no longer cared what
happened He saw his little paradise
melting away Why had he been such
a fool as to steal the money?
He would have given all the world
If he could have been happily back
in his home in ROyceville as on the
evening before.
Z The second car was rapidly approach
ing the fork of the roads. After a
moments indecision 1t suddenly made
a squirt, reached the intersection of the
two roads, and STOPPED. Griggs saw
the two detectives in it. and he no
longer doubted.
And filed with madness, he made
a wild dash toward it. He saw the
two men stand up, heard cries of alarm,
saw their futile effort to draw out
of the way, and then, with a shout Of
triumph, he had driven his machine
full into it.
There was a smashing and splinter
ing of chassis and tonneau. Griggs
was whirled high into the air, Yet
even in that last desperate moment
he was aware of a third car with two
men seated in it, approaching at a
wild speed along the road behind him.
He opened his eyes to find himself
looking at the interior decorations of
his bedroom. At first the events of
the night seemed only like a wild
dream Then he remembered.
He groaned Of course they had
brought him to his home, under guard.
He was being healed, to stand his trial.
He was ruined, disgraced, and the pen
itentiary lOOmed before him.
The nurse was bending over him.
Flush You mustn't try to talk. You
are too brave man to imperil your
recovery"
"You must tell me. -
He listened incredulously to her
story Of the bank robbers who had
blown the empty safe after his de-
parture and fled in their car, of his
own heroic act in sending Martin away
because he suspected, of his pursuit
and capture of the robbers and the
| money single-handed.
He sank back TREMENDOUSLY on The
pillow. The little paradise was here,
In Royceville, after all.