Evening star., 1927-11-05
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)


Near the head of the bridge another
car stood as il stalled, with lights out
and motor sienced, but when the tax
passed, followed so closely and SIX
niflcantly by the powerful roadster
with hood shaped like battering ram
and a single figure suspiciously muftied
for so warm an evening, settled low
behind the wheel, the stalled car sud
denly came to life. The motor throbbed
lights shone forth and it moved of,
joining the procession at discreet
distance behind.
In this order they crossed the bridge,
ratified over the cobbles Of J ons Island
City and through busy village streets
to the open road. The rakiSh roadster
could have passed the humble taxi at
any point. but it evidently preferred
tn trail. and the final car was equally
reticent.
Janet had long since opened her eyes
to watch listessly the lights fash past
her window, but now there were only
the infrequent ones strung over the
road with dark and sleeping farm
houses showing like botches against
the lesser darkness of the sky.
When she had accomplished what
she set out to do. what remained for
her? Dis onsolately, she thought OF
how young she was, and what an in
terminable stretch Of wear. gray
years lay before her. She would so
TO some quiet place, she supposed; the
convent, perhaps. and teach stupid
children for the rest of her days, walk
ing with bowed head and folded hands
in the high-walled garden and trying
always TO shut out the memory of that
island and the terrible, sweet hours
thlt had passed there.
Shl had heard without being wholly
conscious of it the low, continuous
humming of a car just behind and
thought of it with a start when it
seemed to fall away in the distance to
a mere murmur. Had some one been
following her? 1t was late for cars
to be ,pon the road on casual bust.
ness. but whoever it was, they had
evidently taken another turning. She
became immersed again in her sorrow.
full thoughts.
But the roadster with its single oc-
cupant had not turned. A long. low
stretch of the highway lay before
them. dark and deserted and bordered
by deep bitches with dense trees be-
yond, and it had gradually. stealthily,
slackened speed. drawing farther and
farther to the rear. The car behind it
slowed also to maintain it's distance,
and the driver, blonde. distinguished
looking man of middle age. watched
the tail light of the roadster with q
puzzled air.
Mufied as the figure behind the
wheel was, he had recognized it and
surmised from it's presence that the
taxi ahead held some one in whose
identity he might also be interested.
The surmise became a certainty as the
two cars held to their course, but he
was mystified by this latest maneuver
Nothing had gone wrong with the en-
gine of the roadster, he could tell by
its steady, purring note. a. still 1t fell
farther and farther behind. Could its
occupant be awaiting the approach of
q confederate?
Then the purring note deepened to
g. afi and the low. slim body with its
sinister hood seemed to f1atten itself
in the road like an animal crouched
to spring. The third car was creeping
up cautiously upon 1t when with
roar. it leaped forward, its wheels
seeming to spurn the l.uund as 1t tore
through the night.
It's trailer gathered speed also, the
driver bending far forward in his swift
anxiety. Why had the roadster fallen
back as though to gather impetus II
it meant only to pass the taxi, but
did il? Had some desperat devilish
idea entered the mind of its occupant.
an idea of merciless destruction, as
suicidal as 1t would be murderous?
The next instant he secuted the idea.
but IL persisted and with grim determi-
nation he stepped on the gas.