The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-31
VI Outrageous Fortune
EEA ~ Rszsiela NkAzsusH

Jim was not sufficiently sure OF him.
self to slide the banisters. Az he
came TO the foot Of the stairs, he
heard the dull thud Of the baize door
which led TO the kitchen wing.
When he reached Il, the wind was
blowing to meet him down the long
stone passage.
He dashed his hand across hls
eyes and ran at top speed down the
passage and out Of the open door.
The headlong instinct Of pursuit
carried him across the yard and ont
Of the gate. There his mind checked
him. He stood still and listened. II
was no use Just laundering on in the
dark. He'd got to listen, and he'd
got TO think. II the thief was local
man. he would take some side path
or cut across the garden. II he was
q stranger. he would probably stick
to the drive.
Jim caught the sound OF crushed
gravel and began to run again. The
fellow was sticking to the drive.
That looked like q stranger. He
wondered how he had got here. II
he had car or motor-bike, he was
as good as gone already. Remem-
bering the Wiggle-and-twist brand
Of fight the thief had put up, Jim
didn't think. he had to do with Q
novice.
He had almost reached the gate,
when he stopped suddenly and ran
back again past the house along Q
gravel path which wound between
strawberries. He had taken sudden
decision. TO catch q lighter, faster
man with q twenty yard start and
the darkness to help him offered no
chances. In q rapid survey Of the
possibilities he had seen only one
real chance.
There are three ways out Of
Hazelbury West-the main north
road, the Lexington road, and the
path across the fields to Hinton
which was the nearest railway sta
ton. II you walked to the station,
you took the field path, and the dis
lance was four miles. II you drove.
you followed the Lexington road,
and 1t was six.
The path along which Jim was
running came out upon the field
path to Hinton, cutting the corner.
Il the thief was making for Hinton
with the idea Of catching the last
train there. Jim had q reasonable
chance Of intercepting him. He
hadn't gone north; Jim had heard
those running footsteps go or to the
left before he himself turned back.
"A s he ran, Jim wondered whether,
they had altered all the trains.
Seven years is long time to be,
away. There used to be q crawling
local train that stopped at Hinton
the twelve-twenty-five-and arrived
ct Lexington about one. It didn't go
any farther.
Jim kept . steady pace across the
fields. The farther he went. the
more Of . Wild goose chase did the
whole thing appear. He had had o.
hunch, and he had followed 1t. Some
times lunches turned out ell right;i
sometimes they let you down. He
began to feel gloomily certain that
he was going to be let down fat.
He crossed q etile, and came I'M
sight Of the lights OF Hinton station.
As he did 30, the church clock OF
Hinton st. Margaret chimsd out the
hour Of twelve. Il the train had NOT
been altered. he had q quarter OF an
hour In hand. and q couple Of hum
bred yards between him and the
main road.
The field path ended in q gap with
posts across It. Jim emerged,
crossed the road, and began to walk
down the incline which led to the
station. It Is q long incline.
The clock had only Just struck
twelve. but the train was coming In.
Il might now be anything from the
eleven.nfty-five to the twelvefive.
but It couldn't any longer be the
tweive-tifteen.
He started 70 run, and as he dc
50. something black began 10 bob m
and down ahead Of him. Il was an.
other man, also running, and pre-.
sumably with the same object. Jim
put on al the pace he could, gained
. little. and then saw the black an.
ure draw away.
They would hold him ct the
wicket. II they held him, he'd Be
likely to miss the train. Would they
hold him7 No. he was through, with
. hand thrust out e. II he were
showing q ticket.
He was across the platform and
into one OF the rear cars a. the
train began to move. Jim flung him
self against the wicket. and saw
the red tail-iight slide on into the
dark.
He had shot his bolt.
fCopwtsat. 1885. y. n. Lsppancoss Gel