Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-07

chauffeur. Left. it Is and He
| broke short off. There they are;
| he cried excitedly. Listen. They're
| coming out OF that lane there, over
10 the right" He swung the motor
| sharply into the straight OF the
| main road. There they are, see
EN-" he cried again, as the head =
lights brought the rear OF q speed
ing motor into view. The. old
| was right. They didn't bring their
| motor any nearer for fear 1t would
/ be heard. That's where II has been
up the lane there. But we've got
| 'em now, This old grim touch
seventy and never turn a hair"
| "Corking." contributed Captain
! Francis Newcombe Enthusiastically.
You're sure OF the seventy. are
Rather" exclaimed the chauffeur.
| Look for yourself. sir. We're over
hauling them now like one o'clock.
| BY Jove, I believe you're right
he agreed heartily-and from the
! pocket Of his dressing gown pro-
| duced the Earrs revolver.
The motor was lurching now with
| the speed. A hundred yards inter
| vening between the flying cars
| diminished to seventy-fve-to fifty.
Still closer The men in the tom
Eeau chung to their seats. Twenty
| five yards.
Captain Francis Newcombe shout
| ed to his companions over the roar
/ and sweep OF the wind.
''I'll take a pot at the beggars. and
| see IL thatIl stop EN-" he yelled.
| Better chance over the top OF the
windshield, what"
('anfain Fra Nawrnn1ha stood
| up, swayed with the car, fred twice
| in quick succession and once after a
| short pause over the top of the
! windshield-but the ex- captain of
| territorials' mark seemed curiously
| comprehensive in expanse. for his
| eyes were at the same time search
| ing the side of the road ahead. And
| now there showed at the end OF the
headlights path a hedgerow border
ing close against the side of the
road.
Captain Francis Newcombe fred
| again, but as the car lurched now
| the ex-captain Of territorials SEEM
| ed momentarily to lose his balance,
and with the lurch swayed heavily
| against the chauffeur's arm.
There was a startled yell from the
! chauffeur; vicious swerve-and
the big motor. leaped at the hedge.
! came a crash of splintering glass as
| Captain Francis Newcombe was
| pitched head first against the wind
shield: rip and rend and tear as
the motor bucked and plunged and
twisted in its conflict with the thick,
heavy hedge; and then a terrific Jolt
in its train brought full stop.
And Captain Francis Newcombe,
flung back and half out OF the car,
lNar nd .
brought them away wet from a
| great gush OF blood.
Garry on! Carry on" he cried
weakly. You'll never have q bet
ter chance to get them"
! My Cod" screamed the chauffeur
Garry on? We're bally wreck"
What beastly luck" murmured
Captain Francis Newcombe-and
lost consciousness.
Dear Guardy"
| Captain Francis Newcombe. a
pandage swathing his head from the
Tip OF his nose upward, CROPPED out
with his hand for a glass that stood
on the bedside table, succeeded only
| In upsetting 1t. and swore savagely
under his breath. At the same mo-
ment. he heard the front door of his
apartment open and close.
"Runnells" he shouted irritabIv
Dye hear, Runnells? Come here"
y footstep came hurriedly along
| the hall, and the door of the he'd :
room opened. Paul Cremarre stood
on the threshold
| 1T Is not Runnells," said the
frenchman, staring at the bed. "T
used my key. L saw Runnells and
another man go out a few minutes
| ago"
You. Paul" exclaimed CAPTAIN
FRANCIS Newcombe quickly. Il did
not expect you to return from
France until tomorrow.
Monsieur" he said earnestly. 'T
am desolated to see you like this.
How am l to tell you of my graft
tude? How am l to tell you what I
owe YOU? We would have been
caught. In two or three more little
minutes. Runnells and l would have
been pouf."
That seemed rather obvious"
saiH Captain Francis Newcombe
dryly.
Bon Dieu.' calculated the French
man. Yes! / heard from RunnelIs.
OF course-the whole story in code.
There Is only one man who would
have done that. I. Paul Cremarre.
" hVNSh AoA SCI IT, Never. ana
san again that l am desolated to see
you like this. Runnells said your
eyes were very badly injured"
That Is Runnells' lack of balance
in the use OF English" said the ex-
captain Of territorials. There is
nothing whatever the matter with
my eyes. II 1 am blind for the mo-
ment, 1t is because my eyelids are
kept shut by some damned medical
method Of torture, and because of
this bandage. When l took a head
err into the broken windshield, / got
bit of cut that, beginning with
the bridge of my nose. had to go
straight across on each side Just
under the eyebrows. They've made
bit OF a fuss over It, wouldn't let
me come home until now, and I
must still be tucked up in bed. but
-"
TT IL more than you make out"
said the Frenchman gravsly. 4
Know that. But that your eyes are
saved-that is luck"
Quite So" Captain Francis New
combe shrugged his shoulders. And
you?-speaking of luck"
This best" replied the French-