Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 220, 17 June 1911 — Page 2

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m THE MOTOR BiLJRGLARS Jacobs Upjohn

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"With a Grateful Look Chester Drew Her Closer."

ICopjiUM. ten. r Aameao-Jaanal-Exftinisab

"M ARGARET! You can't mean it!" exclaimed the astonished mar.. "1 do mean it." was the flashing reply. "Taking that Brent person motoring before we bad been engaged a week was an Insult to ma. And when the passed us in her car she ogled you. And you ogled back!" Just in Time He Seized the Girl Ont of Peril. She asked me to take her home from the Country Club. I've been her guest sometimes and had to be decent to her,' he expostulated. "As for what you call ogling, that's the way she smiles. And I didn't ogle back!" be added hotly. "Now that our engagement is at an end your relations with her are no affair of mine." vat her icy rejoinder. Dom'nable, the way you are treating me," he protested. "Margaret, dearest, let me explain. Can't I make you see that" "I desire to bo taken home at once," she interrupted. Tn Powerful car Dad bcen rnoving at a moderate pace. The outraged man, scorning to retort, with a vicious jerk threw in the high speed, and. leSDlne forward, thev anorl tinrnmltip through jt tn night Raymond Chester, crouched low ffil over the steering wheel, kept his goggled M vl moodily on the ribbon of road which, in It) Ml the dare of tha Inmni allnned swiftly under them. "It's absurd for Tier to make a row about Mrs. Brent." he said to himself. "Everybody knows there isn't any harm in her. Girls are always down on a lively widow. And I suppose Margaret Is cross, too, because we're so late getting back. As if I were to blame for that blowout!" A rumble of thunder caused Chester to glance skyward. A vast cloud, the flicker of lightning in its heart, was mounting majestically toward the zenith. With a startled exclamation be accelerated to racing speed. There was a sharp explosion; the car swerved violently,' ploughed through the roadside turf and, with a grinding shriek of the emergency brakes, stepped so abruptly as to almost fling its occupants against a wall a yard in front of the hood. The chauffeur sprang from the rumble, struck a match, and, by Us light, examined the torn and collapsed tire. "Look at that, now!" he exclaimed disgustedly. " 'Tis the second blowout inside of twlnty mile. Tires is no good inny more. It'll take the best bait of an hour to' fix. and rou 1A sich a hurry. Mr. Raymond, ye should git Miss Margaret under shelter before that brute nf a erowllnr cloud Hts loose or she'll be fair drounded. That's a big gata close beyant and it manea bTerryCi right. Miss Vinton, assented Chester, stiffly. "Th storm Is rtslns fast." Ignoring his hanl held out to help her the girl stepped llghtl out. Halting in the radiance of the lamps, she removed her veil and put back the errant whlspa of hair which bad strayed across her face of rose and Ivory. "Very well," ah aald. "I am ready ." Aa ahe spoke white teeth, strong snd even, gleamed behind the scarlet of her lips Chester, a great longing in his heart, moved impulsively toward her. Her impassive case ignored the existence of the eager man, who, drawing In his breath sharply, led the way toward the 'From under his tangled thatch of red hair Terence, on his kneea and harJ at work, leered whimsically after them. "First they was a ojiarrllln' " he chuckled, "now they balnt spakln'r nlxt they're likely to be klssln'." "We'll wait for you at the house, Terry, called Chester. "The devil!" be muttered, as his astonished yea rested on the familiar gateway. He hesitated, then, shrugging his shoulders, accompanied Margaret between the massive posts. Thev found themselves walking through the velvet darkness of a shadowed lane, into whose seclusion penetrated no sounds save the far-off grumbling of the thunder and the faint rustlings and scurrylngs of small wild creatures in the bordering growth. But he had cars only for the soft swish of Margaret s garments aa aha moved swiftly forward. "She Is keeping on the other side of the road." he aald to himself bitterly; "as far away from c as she can get. And here we are, footing it to Roslna Brent's house, and I darc&'t say a word. If I told hei where are bound she would refuse to take shelter there. Well, at any rate, she won't meet the woman she detests. Roslna moved, bag and baggage to her city house to-day ad we met her car on the way." Chester's uncomfortable ruminations were broken In upon by the hum behind them of a rapidly approaching automobile. "Terry has been wonderfully quick." he said. Even as he spoke a roaring black bulk, llghtless. leaped out of the murk and tor past them. Just in time he "It Kicked Up Behind

seized the girl and drew her out of peril. For a moment she clung to him trembling. Then, remembering, she moved away. "Outrageous carelessness, running dark," protested the crestfallen man. much cast down by ber withdrawal. "When we get to the house I sliall give them a piece cf my mind." She made no answer. They were pursuing their way In silence when out of the black pall overhead leaped a zigzag bolt and stabbed the earth. By its Intense glare they saw.

across a stretch cl lawn, a spacious country house. "We must hurry!" urged Chester, as the crashing of the thunder ceased. Side by side they sped along the drive, dodged around an automobile blocking the way, and halted, breathless, on the broad plazzl. "We're Just in time." said Chester Raymond. "The house seems closjd. but there is tha car cf those careless people who nearly ran us down. Thy must be insido. Hello! The door Is open." He peered Into the dark hall. From the dining room (more than ne Jolly hour had he passed there) came gleams of light and the sound of voices. "I'll ring," he added, and was fumbling for the button when Margaret clutched his arm. "You mustn't." she whispered. "Those are horrid men insido. Hear what they, are saying!" Holding his breath he listened. "Aw! Yeh wouldn't be In it without me," a nasal voice was droning. "How about me coaxln' that fool caretaker into Sweeney's saloon? Cursed sight better 'dopin' 'Is beer n black Jackln' 'Im like you was goln' to. What a snap! All the silver packed in 'amp3rs ready to ko to-morrer mornln". But it's goln to-night, elgh. Lumpy. Your gal Mame's a 'uramer puttin' jus on ter the best lay we've struck sense we took to night hautymobilin'." There was a hoarse chuckle In reply. "An" all the booze throwed in. 'Ave some more. Slim." "We oughter let booze alone 'till we git to New York." protested Slim. "We 'alnt none too much time." 'The shanty's ours till daylight," was the surly response. "I'm goin' to 'ave more, and lots of it. Go to . ell!" Then the crash and tinkle of glass came to their ears as a bottle was decapitated. "Let us go!" gasped Margaret, and turned to flee. A blinding flash lit up the Interior of the house. It was followed by a reverberating peal of thunder and the multitudinous voices of a furious wind which drove tha rain in level sheets against the house. "No!" whispered Chester, holding her fast "You musn't go out into that We can hide on the upper floors until the storm passes. It won't be long. Then we can slip away and give an alarm. The brutes will be drinking for an hour yet." With a shudder she yielded and, together, they tiptoed across the hall and up the stair. At its head, by the glare of the lightning, they made out an open space, with chairs, a sofa and a cabinet loaded with bric-a-brac. "Sit here while I look about," he said. Hurriedly he tried door after door. Including one which shut off the upper floor. All locked 1 With a groan he called to mind the revolver in his car. Weaponless, he stood by Margaret and waited. The storm lulled and, with the dying down of Its clamor, once more the voices in the dining room reached them. "Let that stuff be, curse yeh!" enrrled the irate Slim. "Not Mother drop till the hauty's loaded! We gotter git busy." There were inarticulate bickerings and protests. Then two men slouched into the hall carrying electrio torches. Chester noted that one was a lank, shifty scoundrel, the other a black-bearded, sawed-off giant who moved about with uncertain footing, picking up ornaments that struck his fancy and dropping them Into cavernous pockets. "What's the usa wastln time on chicken feed?" he demanded irritably. "Mame said they was goad stuff in the store rooms." Flashing hi3 torch up the stairs by chance its light fell upon the white face of Margaret, who, cowering behind the railing, was looking downward in wide-eyed terror. "A goil!" bawled Lumpy. "Come on, Slim!" Preceded by his swifter footed pal he lurched up the stairs. They were half way to the top when Chester, who had grabbed a statuette from the cabinet, rose and threw it with a college pitcher's accuracy. It struck Slim full in the chest. He grunted, coughed, doubled up and rolled to the foot. Then, his face distorted with rage, he drew a revolver and opened fire as he rushed up the stairs. A Dresden china vase checked him In mldcareer. while the oncoming Lumpy, roaring like a bull, collided with a "pot bellied Chinese deity which sent him downward, bumping on every step. "Keep back. Margaret!" called Chester, "though they can't see us In the dark and have too much fizx aboard to hit anything. Ah!" he added, as his exploring fingers, rummaging in the cabinet, came in contact with a crystal ball "This feels natural." With a professional twirl he shot it at Slim. It caught him on the elbow and. with a yell, he dropped his pistol, lost his balance and fell backward. That landed all right; all right!" called Chester. "Margaret, dearest, by the light of that last flash I saw a telephone on the walL Call up Central and ask for help. If the ammunition in that cabinet holds out I can hold the fort till they come." A costly bronze hurtled toward the besiegers, followed by a string of horrible oaths from Lumpy, who was thus frustrated la his attempt to get cn his unsteady legs. High and clear Margaret's voice rang out "Central!" while the bell Jangled again and again. "Central! Ther are burglars in this house. Call up the police station! Hurry! Hurry! Have you got it? Captain! Burglars have broken in. We are fighting them from the second floor they are trying to kill us! Have you an automobile? That's good. Here in five minutes? You will be in time." "That's great," called Chester, who was piling chairs In an entanglement at the stairhead. He watched Slim Jerk the dazed Lumpy to his feet. "Git up. yeh fool!" shrilled the demoralized man, "the gal's rung up the cops. If we don't mosey out of this we'll be nabbed. Well take the silver what's packed up and git." There were trampllngs and thumpIngs. From the citadel of chairs Chester saw the hampers carried forth. He heard the sound of cranking up and a rapidly diminishing hum as the pirate car fled away.

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and Tossed Passengers and Freight Through Eainbow Trajectories."

Pressing a button Chester flooded the bail with light, revealing Margaret, hand on heart, lips parted, listening intently. "Great work!" he cried exultantly. "Your telephoning did the trick. Toe police may head them off in the Ir.ne." "No," she said, shaking her head. "The telephone Is -disconnected. I didn't get any answer. I made It up about tile police." "You wonderful girl!" he exclaimed, trying to take her in his arms. . "You musn't,' she said reproachfully. "1 cannot permit it. We are no longer engaged." The light of battle and of victory died out of Chester's eyes. "After all we've been through together are you going to treat me this way?" he demanded. Silent, she nodded stubbornly. He pondered the unthinkable situation, then, staggering to the railing he clutched it. swaying. "I didn't know I was hit," he muttered feebly and sank to the floor. "Chester! Chester! My darling!" she cried despairingly, throwing herself down beside him. Soaked to the skin, but humming a rollicking air, Terence O'Day, Chester Raymond's chauffeur, waa guiding a runabout aiong the lane toward "Brentledga" when he beard tho whine of an approaching motor, and around the curve into the shine of his lamps raced a big, black automobile. Crouching on the front seat were two men. They drove the car straight at him. Honking frantic warnings. Terry tried to get out of their way by forcing his own machine into the shrubbery at the side of the roadway. He saw a flash, heard a report, and felt the sting as a bullet 6cored

I 1 ft- 1 ' if (k " $ 0

"The oncoming Lumpy, roaring like a bull, collided his cheek. The oncoming car swerved to pass him, skidded on the wet roadway and sidewlped a trefe. Halted by the collision, it kicked up behind and tossed passengers and freight through rainbow trajectories. The occupants thudded heavily on the macadam and lay still; the hampers, bursting like exploding rockets as they fell, radiated showers of silver plate. Rid of its load, the aggressive mechanism settled back on its four wheels and charged headlong into a bush, where, gears enmeshed by the shock, it continued to chug-chug viciously. The astounded Terry hurriedly maneuvered Ills car until its lamps lit up the scene. One of the summarily ejected was bellowing with pain as be tried to straighten a twisted leg. The other made no sign. Scattered broadcast around the precious couple, like a silver constellation, gleamed Mrs. Brent's spoons and salvers, teapots and tureens. "Motor burglars, or I'm a Dutchman!" cried Terry. "I've heard they was around. An there's a big reward for tiim devil3 an,' " he chuckled, "Terence O'Day is the bye to be scoopin' it If I had a bit of a rope now. A piece of thot fence wire'll do." With nippers from his tool box he cut several lengths. As he approached the recumbent figures Slim greeted him with a paroxysm of helpless profanity. "Yeh noodlim!" shouted Terry. "Whot for did ye shoot at an honest man?"

"Whot did yeh expect?" was the sullen response. "Aint yeh a cop?" f "I'll cop ye!" retorted the truculent Terry. With scant consideration tor Slim's yelping protests he twisted lengths of wire around his legs and arms. Then he enmeshed the comatose Lumpy. His Job completed, Terry looked down derisively upon his trussed up prisoners. "You felleys Is rlddy money to me," he Jeered, "an I'm goin' to cash ye in at the police ofTls." He inspected their car, to find it little the worse for Its acrobatics. Bringing the machines in tandem, he fastened them together with wire and unceremoniously deposited the burglars In their own. Then he carefully gathered up the scattered stiver, after which, with Jubilant honks, he guided his dual charge toward the mansion, announcing his arrival by a prolonged series of toots. "If it balnt Mrs. Brent's!" he exclaimed in astontonishment. "I was too busy to be noticiu'." He sprang up the steps and entered the open door. All was In darkness save for -a light streaming down a stairway littered with fragments of china and battered ornaments. Up there some one was sobbing pitiably. "If they'a done thlm dirt," he muttered, shaking a vengeful fist in the direction of tho black car, 'they'll wish the foul fiend had thlm instid of Terince O'Day." In three bounds be reached the stairhead and displaced the barricade of chairs. Before his horrified eyes, prone on the floor, his head in Margaret's lap, his master lay. She was kissing him again and again. "An Is he kilt. Miss Margaret?" cried Terence. She looked at him with streaming eyes. "Oh! Terry. Terry!" she moaned, "those dreadful men have murdered my darling boy."

with a pot-bellied Chinese diety, which sent him downward."

Chester, opening his eyes, smiled beatiflcally up at her. "Not quite," he murmured, "I've been feeling all right for some time, hut couldn't find It in my heart to interrupt" Hastily shoving his head from her lap she scrambled to her feet and looked down on him in scarlet indignation. "There isn't any blood," she said. "Aren't you wounded 7" was her stern Question. "No," he answered with a sheepish look. She stamped her foot. "I was so wretched and you were making believe! And Terry saw mo kissing ycu!" Her eyea were blazing.

Central! there are burglars in this hcuse."

"I was looking the other war, Mlti - Terry BalL cusfnggize60' bUt 0t dare 10 er "Glad you're here, Terry." be said. "It you had come a little sooner you could have ,aJ a hand in a mighty pretty scrimmage. We found burglars here and had a fight with them. Did you meet a couple of fellows in a car without lights?" "I did that," was the grim answer. "They're at the dure. Don't be a worryla'," he added, noting alarm in his employer's countenance. Then, in glowing language, he told the story of his battle. Pointing to the wound in his cheek, be described how. at the risk of his lire, with the assistance of the black car, he had possessed himself of two burglars, and Mrs. Brent's silver plate. The story told and commented on, Chester, holding her close, was conducting Margaret toward the stairs when she halted to scrutinize a portrait on the wall. Out of its flamboyant frame smiled roguishly at them that alluring lady Rosina Brent Margaret fixed searching eyes on her embarrassed lover. "1 say," he stammered, "I didn't dare tell you whose house it is afraid you'd stay out in the storm. Ill swear never to" . A white hand closed his mouth. "It was silly of me to be Jealous of her," was her languid comment "How she simpers!" With a grateful lock Chester drew her closer, while from the shelter of his encircling embrace she continued to examine the picture, - j "It is well painted," she murmured thoughtfully, "but not as well as she is."

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