San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-18

ing rain.
Their headlights illumined the de-
serted road. No houses for over a
mile. An isolated stretch Of thick,
spectral woods.
Crickets, tree-frogs, all the sounds
and fragrance of the country at
night.
"Oh, listen-isn't that an owl?"
Helen leaned forward. "They al
ways sound so lonely"
Huh, this's no great white way"
grumped Warren. Pretty dead
spot"
"And much longer" admitted
Lawrence, blowing for turn ahead.
But we had to take that detour."
It'll be eleven before we get
home" complained Carrie. "A
shame to keep this child up so
late"
"He's asleep now. Don't wake
him. Helen dreaded the resump-
ton of Boobies squirming fretful-
hess.
"He ought TO be In bed" Carrie
covered him with the robe. II told
Lawrence not to try to make Blake
wood today"
Been home by now If it hadn't
been for that blowout"
Helen, leaning back, drank in the
fragrance of the night. She loved
that murmurous drone of crickets
and tree-fogs. If Carrie would only
stop talking! Just to lie back and
dream in the darkness-with the
moist, wood-scented air in her
face.
A heavy bump as they sagged
over a gulch.
"Oh, this awful road. Lawrence.
you'll have to slow up along here"
where's my balloons? Boobies
peevish whine.
They're both here. Go back to
sleep. Precious-no, don't put your
feet on mother. Lawrence, you
sure we're on the right road? We
haven't passed a car"
"Yes, thiS's the Dry Brook fork.
BE out of it soon."
81 want to sit in front with
Daddy" whimpered Bobbic.
mo, Daddy has to drive-and
this dark road. Wen soon be
home"
Il can sit on Uncle warren's
lap"
NO, you DON'T" squelched War.
rem. Don't want you squirmin'
around the gears on this stretch. ="
mo, no, Petite" Carrie dragged
him back as he tried to climb Ovei
the front scat. "You must stay
here with mother and Aunt
Helen"
A loud report! A sharp rend-
ing of the still night.
What's that? Not another blow
out?"
"No, Bobbie stepped on one Of
his balloons"
MY Balloon" walled Bobbie,
Just realizing what had happened.
Mother told you to sit still.
That's what you get for not
minding."
Gar behind" cautioned Warren.
They swerved to the right as a
small roadster shot past. Empty
but for the hunched-up man at the
wheel. An uncouth figure, his cap
pulled low over his eyes.
"Crazy to speed like that on this
road" muttered Warren. "He's
hittin' over forty"
"Did you notice the way he
looked at us?" shivcrcd Helen. "As
though-Oh, I don't know what"
Rum runner" shrugged War
rem. mo wonder he's stcppin' on
it."
Another mile Of black woods.
Ominous rumblings from the cloud
clotted sky.
WED better get the curtains
out" worried Carrie.
Not yet. Don't want to stop
along here. Wei be out Of this
soon. Hello, there's another car
No. the same one"
"Stalled :" Warren peered through
the darkness.
Drawing nearer, Lawrence jam
med the brake for the car ahead
blocked the road.
The driver, flashlight in his
hand, was working over the en-
CINE.
whats the trouble?" called
Lawrence.
Somethin' wrong here" in a
muffled voice. "Can't get il
goin'. Got a Stilson in your tool
chcst?"
But before they could jump out,
he whirlcd on them. a revolver
glittering in his hand.
Now, let's have it all! Quick -
A shrek from Carrie. An oath
from Warren.
"Get out-both Of you, The
Molls can stay in. Now come across
or I'll let you have it,"
Helen, too frightened to scream
saw Lawrence and Warren hant
over their wallets.
Now how bout the tickers
And you might throw in them cuff
links"
Dexterouslv pockcting the loot
he backed closer to the car.
"Stcp up here so ] can keep yol
covered. Now, don't be frightened
sistcrs-just let's have then
sparklcrs."
II can't get them off," sobbc'
Carrie, frantically perking at he
rings
tsnI