The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-11-11
CHAPTER X-Continued

L.
sN-not quite that bad. But it was
pretty dreadful"
As she spoke there came the crack
OF gun from somewhere on ahead,
and then another and a third. Betty
put her hands to her ears and said,
s.Dear mel are we going to get into
more of it?"
" guess not" said Smith. ''I'm in
clined to think that was Harding, try
ing to stop those fellows"
mile or more farther on they
found the sheriff and two of his depu-
ties standing in the road, Markham
pulled up and waited, and Smith got
out of his car and walked on to speak
to the sheriff.
my guess was right" he said, when
he came back. .@They went by here,
merely hitting the high spots, and
Harding tried to stop them; shot at
their tires but apparently missed the
mark. anyhow, they didn't stop. I
told Harding what they did to you,
and he says he'll try to trail the scoun-
drels and bring 'em to book. I guess
we're safe to go on to town, now"
A few minutes fast driving brought
them to the bridge over, the Timanyoni;
and Smiths car turned off to the rail-
road station. The fast drive had been
made in silence, but after Markham
had helped his seatmate out at the
curb the young woman broke it.
"Wally, where could find you or
Owen quickly, If should need TOT"
she asked
.Why, we are at the Hophra house,
as you know"
'sYes; but you are not there all the
time"
Markham did bit of quick thinking.
"Are you asking seriously, Betty?"
aYes Don't ask me why. can't
tell you-yet. But"
''I'll promise that one or the other
of us will always be within reach of
the hotel phone. win that do?'
Eyes, thank you. Good night"
He waited until he had seen her
mounting the porch steps before he
drove away toward the business dis
trict. On the way he was wondering
why she had made her singular re-
quest, and he was still wondering
after he had put his car up and was
entering the lobby of the hotel.
Looking for Lands, he crossed to
the counter. The key to their suite
was in its pigeonhole, which meant
that Lands had not gone upstairs
Markham spoke to the clerk.
''Seen anything of Mr.. Landis?"
ssWhy yes; he was right here little
while ago"
you don't know where he went?"
'.No, hold on, yes do, too. Mr..
Starbuck phoned for him from his
office across the street, and he went
over there"
whats that?" Markham snapped.
s'Mr. Starbuck isn't in town. He went
to Copah last night to meet his wife
and daughter''
''He must have returned" said the
clerk. ''The operator said the phone
call was from him."
Markham turned away vaguely dis
turbed. An attempt had been made to
hidnap him, and only the opportune
appearance of Smiths car had made
1t fail Had similar attempt been
made to trap Lands? AS he hest
tated, he saw Smith talking to three
of the lately arrived guests at the
cigar stand. He turned to the clerk
and asked if he knew the names of
the three who were with Smith.
II do, for fact. They are the
three gentlemen you were asking about
when you came, week ago. Mr..
Fleming, Mr.. Cantrell and Mr.. Mar
tin, from Louisville. They have just
come in on the Nevada Flyer"
"Not driving?"
s'No; they started out to drive and
came part Of the way by motor. But
they had bad luck with their car and
left 1t at one of their stopovers."
Markham looked again at the three
men. Not in any single particular did
they resemble the three who had been
registering under the same names
halfway across the continent, and
whom he and Lands had seen leav-
ing the lobby of the Copah hotel in
company with Candy.