chance to move asid.. but seized him surprise had gained the closed floor I inclined to believe that Marrop.iat so fiercely by the wrists that be in before they recovered and sought t»| stay him. CHAPTER XXVI. i clung passionately to hl’ "Tell mo them was momentarily growing less hoped to stop the taxicab by deriv stinctively HHed to indifferent to them all, he shook the 1 ing it, in course of time, cf its !"e and she fairly threw him L' ¡t rit » dozen again that you love me!" she tiiayed. noticeable. knob and shouted: "Rose! Rose!" I As Marrophat ’ s car drew abreast He brouyl.il up with And with th:., tn tiind he was present Make-Bilieve. feet from her. I — — Promise me you 1! never let anything Her cry came back to him, a ruuf. I For upwards of tin'": quarters of an : com* lirt'siri us. I’ruini. " n. A’an Alaa nodded and said quietly: ‘‘Don't ly surprised, as the cab took a corner, a crash against the w all even as the tied scream: "Alan! Help! Help!" I hour of that imld.-u i irnliu; which fol- promise m you I! b- kind lu t.io al be alarmed; I can attend to this gen to see Marrophat’s car stop at that door siauimed b hind the gill- tleman single handed.” Backing away with a mad idea of I When Alan, Hie first to recover, corner ar.d Marrophat himself get low« d U m night of hfa r,turn to N- w ways, dear!" And this he proceeded to demon down, The trow 01 a hill intervened, gained the sidewalk, she was already throwing himself bodily against the I York, Mr. Law was permitted to es "Can you doubt 1 will be kind?” bo strate io Illi admirable ease, even shutting off sight of th 9 blackguard as in the taxicab. Whatever reward she door and breaking it down, he was sufl. ] teem himseli lc apt , st of mortals niurmuie l reproach'ul!y. was the had promised the man. he whipped his denly confronted by a hideous mask ot I And Inasmuch as this i< not only :i "I am alt.nd . . she whispered, though called upon to do so tar eoon- he knelt and lit a match. I it suddenly Io, r unlnteri II ot happi "Hua could I be anything eLe, lov- er than lie had thought to be—thanks girl who gave the alarm, the win- machine away as if from the fear of humanity—face of man all misshapen 1 to Marrophat s hair-brained precipi withdrawing her head from bruised and swollen and disfigure^ I ness than is bum n!y common but is mg you as 1 do?” sudden death. tancy. Fur, failing to influence the dow to scream at Alan: And darting from the house hard with smears of dried blood and a dirty 1 more of that unction thin ordinarily "I am airaid . . leaver the who!, of Ilf- time, Aluu Marrophat bandage round his temples, but none I "He’s fired the gasoline! It's flam- on the min ster's heels, Marrophat. "Why should 1 ba unkit.d to you?” taxi driver by shouted demands or was perhaps to be < t.vl d, even though - the line leaped into his own car and, as if he tho less vaguely recognizable. "It isn't that. . . . I’m jusl threats, or to gain the least attention ing along the st re.., - ing from Alan, Trine's first lieutenant ab of the leak—and catching up with us. disillusionment v.l. n it came was sud afraid." The words that etreamed from ite I had not heard her threat or received ruptly and surprisingly took his life Without pausing to put Ins hand to substantial proof of her earnestness, distorted lips drove recognition home I den, sharp, ami to .him unspeakably "Of what?” in his liand3 and iu one wild bound the latch, Alan kicked H, door open. tore off in pursuit. “Gee, ’ellers, look’t who’s here! If I shocking—a swift, unprt et,''J plunge "Of losing you.” bridged the distance between the two "Jump!” be cried. "For your life it ain't th' guy what threw me off’n < from sunlit p> al, : uf i upt erne content “But that can never be!" flying cars and landed on the taxi's jump! As soon as that flame catches to the black depths uf a bleak Aver that girder this mornin’. Stand back ' “You can’t be sure. IVki CHAPTER XXVIII. running board. up with the tank—” ( and let me kill th’—" nus of despair. were to find you’d been m Stop!” he screamed madly. "Stop, Simultaneously the chauffeur, over The beginning of the p< i lod was She caught her breath an i Without the hesitation of a heart- ' And the Rose. I say! You don’t know what you’re hearing, eliut off tlie power. synchronous with th" tl in of a taxi hastily—“That you didn't re Taking the dazed young man by the beat Alan swung heavily for the thug’s doing! Let me tell you—” The three gained the sidewalk bare hand, ae though he had been a child, jaw. The blow went solidly home. cab dour that shut away a superfluous me, I mean.” He got that far but no farther. In ly in time: the tiny trail of flames, al the Reverend Mr. Wright led Alan The man fell like a poled ox. world from the comi ny of two who "Oh, that'e ridiculous!” loved. "1 can't be sure. Nothing in life 1.; the same breath Alan had flung wide most imperceptible in tlie sunlight, back to his study and established him Pandemonium ensued. Rallying to The sound spelled safety as well ae permanent. M hat Is love? Illusion of the door and was at the fellow’s throat. was not a yard from the jet that spurt in a comfortable armchair beside his their comrade, the ruffians attacked success In Alan’s understanding. the senses! What is happiness? A There was a struggle of negligible ed through the bullet hole in the tank. desk. Alan with one mind and one intent. The cur slipped smoothly away from will-o'-the-wlip! What is life? ▲ .duration; Marrophat was In no way In the flutter of an eyelash the explo “Sit there and compose yourself, my Murder would have been done then his antagonist’s match; within three sion followed. Had the cab been load the curb, pursut d only by u little gust make believe!" dear young friend,” he insisted in a and there had it not been for a rotten of s< nii Ironic rli-ers tiom tho little "Dearest!” He held her more close seconds he threw out both hands, ed with nitroglycerin its destruction soothing voice. banister-rail, which gave way, precipi clutched hopelessly at the framework Company of working nun wl.o had wit ly still. “You are nervous and over could have been no more absolute. At the elbow of the Reverend Mr. nessed as well :s measurably partici wrought. You don't know what you’re of the cab, and fell heavily to the There was a roar . . - and then Wright a telephone shrilled impera- tating the lot to the ground floor of the hallway. pated In the putative elopement from saying. You can't mean what you’re street. a heap of smoking ruins. t’vely. With a gesture of professional The taxi sped on without pause, its tho house of Trine. Without waiting to admire the spec* patience he turned to the instrument, ! Simultaneously the lamp on the wall «saying. . . . But say that it’s so—> was struck from its bracket and Vigilant for any indication that their that life is all make-believe. Then driver deaf to the hails of innocent if taele, Alan caught the arm of the girl indignant bystanders. Alan pulled and hurried her up the street, at tlie lifted the receiver to his ear, and crashed to the floor, its glass well evasion hud had a wltne: , In that make-believe you love me—" himself together and looked back Just same time calling to the chauffeur to spoke in musically modulated accents. breaking and loosing a flood of kero strange homo ot deathless hatred, "Oh, but I do, 1 do!” “Yes . . . Yes: this is Mr. sene to receive the burning wick. The Alan watched it through the little “And make believe for a little we’ve in time to catch a glimpse of a num follow. And chance brought them to window in the buck of tlm cab until a caught the will o'-the wisp—only for a ber of loafers lifting Marrophat to his the next corner as another cab, fare- Wright. ... Ah, yes, Mr. Digby. explosion followed instantly. In a I . . . Not coming? But, my dear sir, trice the hallway was a lake of burn- corner blotted out the vision of It; little until you wake up and realize feet and helping him to the sidewalk • Mr. Law is already here. I must tell , ing oil, and hungry flames were lick- then with a ul -.li of relief sank down that it's all real and true." you —” ' ing up the rotting wallpaper and eat- by the side of the woman to whom his She cloced her eyes again: He checked with a reproving glance , ing into decayed baseboards and stair- every thought, impulse und imotion she breathed, "you are right, for Alan, who was twitching his sleeve , treads. were dedicated. make-believe It’s till true for a little insistently. “Rose!” he whispered, and tenta longer . . . aud forget . . .” Still fighting like a madman, con "If you please,” Alan begged, “let testing every foot of the way, Alan tively touched one of the hands that Ho could by no nu ans account for me speak to Digby at once. Forgive was borne down the hall and out of luy clem lied in her lap. this strange humor; but he did his me—” She responded with never a sign to best to comfort In r, none ti e less ten the front door. A scream of “Fire!” Reluctantly the minister surrendered greeted him as he reeled out into the Indicate consclom no. -< either of his derly because of his mystification. And“ the telephone. touch or Ills wliisja r ; open. It was echoed by a dozen for a long time she let illusion blind And reminding himself of the strain her. resting quietly in liis arms, mak “That you, Digby?” : throats. imposed upon her by the experience ing believe . . . "Alan! Bless my soul, what are you The doorway vomited men and through which they had jiiHt passed, doing over there? Is Miss Trine with women of the tenement. They choked Only on approai Ring the Twenty- Alan excused In r ten1 ; it :.I, < nc: s on third street ferry they must needs you? But how can that be possible?” it for a time, blocking both egress and ground , of r- ietlon, and for the time louse und i,tt apart cunrlralnedly for "Rose? No. What about her?” Alan ingress. By the time they broke out felt constrained to let his sweetheart I ar tome one might glauce through demanded, stammering with anxiety. and left the way clear a solid wall of root and r< • In la r normal poise: the window and surprise their secret "Why—one of my spies has just re flame stood behind it. there v as 1-11 ■< eiiouvh for liitu in the ported by telephone. He was going on Au if one needed the evidence of a Thrice Alan essayed to pass that Consclousiie: rt Hi. ’ he had won her caress exchanged to know that they duty this morning when he saw a barrier of fire, and thrice it threw him safely away, that nothing now mote were lovcis, v. ho had eyes to see the young woman—either Rose or Judith back. Then, struggling and kicking than u slant hour's diive across town flushed loveliness of the girl shrink; —wearing a rough coat over boudoir to release himself and try again, he nnd by ferry across the Hudson stood inr. back in her corner or wit to iuter- dress—climb out of one of the base was seized by a brace of able-bodied between them and the marriage that pret the radiant happiness that shone ment windows of Trine’s house. She policemen and rushed fifty feet from should prove tho consunib.atiun of ull in Alan’s face ;’.3 he hint forward and was apparently in great distress of the house before let go. their trials . . . Barring sceldunt! watched warily from the winde mind and anxious to escape without Alan had toj often f.iHT ri 1 tlm pen being seen from the house; but before I Lack of breath checked him momen- alty of di cap intiiierit t< r , v, r indul my man—whose post of observation i tarily. CHAPTER XXVII. gence In thi falling of his for depred He looked up, dashing from his is in the third story of one of the ating Hie unforese, a, not to make tlie houses opposite—could get to tho smarting eyes tears drawn by the mental reservation, "Barring acci “That Woman is Judith Trine, You Idiot—Not Rose!” street, she had been caught by several stifling clouds of smoke, and saw Theos was tho last vehicle to swing dent >!" with a Hub' shiver of dread. I rough-looking customers, who rushed vaguely at the second story window a less, hove into view. Promising its between the gales before these last Hud any of Trine’s household been of an unsavory-looking tenement, be driver anything he might ask, in or out of Trine’s house, seized the girl, woman leaning out and shrieking for cognizant of his daught, r’u e.-.cape, v.or j closed. fore the cab took a corner on two out of reason, Alan gave him the ad and made off with her in a motor-car help. And this was quite as well; for Alan, Alan argued, interference must have wheels . . .” That it was hopeless to attempt the rising for one last backward glance dress, and helped the girl in. bearing a New Jersey license number. been Instant. "Not seriously injured, I fancy,” he staircase he well knew. ’Drawing through the rear window, started in If Marrophat pursued Alan could see I am sending men to watch the Jersey Despite the re.'rearing aspect, the told the girl in response to her eager no sign ot him. The second car made ferries. Call me up in an hour—” aside, he endeavored to come to his preoccupation of his companion bc voluntarily a'«d choked upon an ex, look. "Worbe luck!” he added better time than tho first. Unhindered, clainatlon when he descried a power Without a word of response, and sober senses, and cast about for some I wore upon him Hi.it ho was pt... entlj gloomily. and as far as could be determined, without a word of apology to the Rev more feasible way to effect the rescue no longer uble to i drain from disturb ful touring ear tearing madly toward But it seeemed that he was to have without being followed, it covered tha erend Mr. Wright, Alan dropped the of bis Rose. the ferry house, its one passenger halt Ing her. greater cause than this to complain of The tenement occupied one corner "Rose!" he begged ngalft, closing a rising from the trout scat, beside tho his luck, before that ride was ended. brief remaining distance in a grate- receiver, snatched up hi3 hat, and fled of a narrow street. Directly opposite, driver, und exhibiting a countenance fully short lapse of time. that house like a man demented. hand tenderly over hers. "Dearest Three blocks further on a tire blew The suburb dropped behind a maze Rose, escaping from Trine’s house, a storage warehouse stood upon the girl, don't worry ffliother ins tant! De purplo with congested chagrin ns ho out with a report like a cannon-crack calm yourself: remember we are snfr saw Ills car baited out of tlie carriage er, und the taxi lurched perilously, of streets where dwellings stood shoul overpowered and made the captive of other corner. Before this last was the entrance. der to shoulder and dooryards were Trine’s lowest creatures—gunmen pos common landing stage for truck de Quickly 11 n. ilivc to bls emotion, tho hesitated, slowed down, and limped scant. The car swept up to a corner sibly, of the stamp of that animal liveries, protected by a shed-roof. dejectedly to the curb. girl caught nervously at Alan's hand. of modest and homely aspect. whom Trine had charged with the as And, suspended from a timber that Alan and the chauffeur piled out in house "What Is it, dour?" peered out over the eaves, a hoisting Two minutes more, and Alan was ex sassination of Alan the night before! tho same instant, the one standing changing salutations "Marrophat," lie snapped. with and making There was neither a motor-car in guard — with un eye out as well for She uttered a hush'd < ry of dismay. his bride-to-be known to Digby’s good sight for him to charter nor any time "Don I bo ul.ir.ti -d, however,” ho another cab—while the other assessed friend, the Reverend Mr. Wright. to waste in seeking one. Alan could hasten, d to comfort her. "He's lost damages. Embarrassment worked confusion only hope to find one on his way back "Nothing for it but a new tire, sir, ” the race: (lie rates are i hut—even tho with the young man's perceptive facul toward the ferry. It must have been passeuj:' r mit, and there must be this last reported sympathetically. “It ties. As this moment approached upwards of an hour before he came must have been a broken bottle or a company spotter somewhere near by, when two should be made one who had into a street which he recognized, by for the gatenuiu Is virtuously refusing something like that—It sure did rip gone through fire and flood, literally its dinginess and squalor, as that In the usefulness clean out of that shoe." to b< billed by a roll of money as “Go to it,” Alan advised lilm terse as well as figuratively, for each oth which he had thrown Marrophat from thick as my wrist!" ly; "and if you make a quick job of it. er’s sake, incredulity drew a veil be the running-board of the taxicab. At that Instant the taxicab rolled fore his vision. He viewed the world And then, as he paused, breathless aboard t!ie ferry bent; tho deck gates I’ll stand the cost of the new tire.” as in a glass, darkly. and footsore, to cast about him for the "But if another cab comes along were closed; a hoarse whistle reut tho He was aware of a decently fur way to the ferry, a touring car turned roaring silence of the city; winches while you’re at it you’ll lose us as nished minister's study; of two wit a corner at top speed and slowed to a rattled and chains clanked; mid the quick as a wink. Here's my card, in nesses in the guise of unassuming stop before that selfsame tenement of bout wore ponderously out of Its slip. cubc we have to desert you in a hurry; womenfolk of the minister's house the unsavory aspect to whose sidewalk "So much for Mr. Marrophat!" Alan you understand this is a matter of Ufa hold; of the Rev. Mr. Wright himself he had seen Marrophat assisted by crowed, sitting down. "Foiled again! and death, and 1’11 nave no time to as a benevolent voice rolling sono the loafers of the quarter. settle up with you. Hut you can call He can t stop us now!” And this touring car was occupied at Mr. Digby’s office and he'll fix rously forth from a b’ack-clad pres ‘•Perhaps . . .” ence; of the woman of his heart stand by some half-a-dozen ruffians in whose things up to your satisfaction. ” "Why that p' haps? Why that The man took the card and after a ing opposite him; of questions asked hands a young girl writhed and strug. nc?" he demanded sharply, struck and responses made; of a ring that gled when, immediately on the stop, by the foreboding her accents con glauce at the name touched his hat was magically conjured from some they jumped out and wrestled her out with more noticeable respect. fessed. “AU right. Mr Lar.-,” he agreed; store apparently maintained against with brutal inconsideration. ‘"Jliis Isn't th - only ferry. There’s precisely similar emergencies; of a Like a shot Alan had crossed tho the Pennsytvanlu and the 1 ackawauna "anything you say.” And forthwith hand that took the hand that was to be street —but only to bring up nose to -and by hard driving Ito might even got to work. The rapidity with which he com his wife’s and placed it in his; of his the panels of the tenement door, and manage to catch Hie boat that con nects with tills from the Christopher pleted the change of tires proved him clumsy and witless bungling with the to find himself seized and thrown an excellent chauffeur, an adept at his task of fitting that ring to the finger roughly aside by a burly denizen when street ferry of too Eric!” of his sweetheart's hand . . . he grasped the knob and made as it "Impossible! 1 don’t believe It! I craft; but the delay was one disas Charged With the Assassination of Aud then he was aware of a door to follow in. won't!” trous for all that. It worked together Alan. that banged violently in the hallway; "Keep back, young feller!" his as- with what Alan pardonably described "Let s not," she agreed. "Cut, Alan of the sound of a man ’ s voice making sailant warned him viciously. "Keep as the devil's own luck to bring the , tackle dragged the ground with Its She Appeared Anxious to Escape touring car in sight at the precise mo some indistinguishable demand; that outa this, now, if you don’t want to ropes. "Yes?" get into trouble. ” Rose ’ s hand was suddenly whipped Without Being Seen. "Pronilse me If he should manage ment when tile chauffeur was cranking It was the work of a minute to con to cutch up with u»—you won't let him up and Alan on tho point of re-enter away, before he could fit on the ring; i To the speaker's side another vince a thick-headed policeman that now, we fooled them handily—thanks that the study door was flung open and ranged, eyeing Alan with a formidable, ing the cab. And though they were to your faith and bravery, sweetheart! talk to you. 1 mean, don't let him—" off again before Alan could close the that this animal of a Marrophat had scowl. At discretion he stepped back the attempt was feasible and should "No fear of that!" lie asservated and everything In going to be well and turned as if persuaded tc, mind his be permitted. It was the work of less the attempt was hopeless from precipitated himself into the room. with ns from now on. Over iu Jersey both. "If ho tries to exchange one door, He opened his mouth to protest — own business, then swung on his heel, than another minute to rig a loop in the start. the minister Is waiting now to marry word with tm I only wish he would!" and Marrophat silenced him with a caught the two in the very act of open the line and fasten round his body She scorned atfi-.tled with that; but And yet — whether or not because the arms. Volunteers did not V»; and down at the White Star dock cry. ing the door, and threw himself be beneath lack; a couple of husky longshoremen the boat Is waiting that la to carry us the Incident had served appreciably to Alan's distaste for Interference bad tween them. "You foul! Drop that ring! Stop chill their spirits. They accomplished been too convincingly demonstrated— off to England the moment we re mar this farce! Don’t you know whom An elbow planted heavily in the pit sprang to the ropes at his firet call. ried Think of that and that I love the remainder ot that voyage in a the touring car for the time being you’re marrying? That woman is Ju of the stomach of one disposed of him They heaved with a will. His feet left you Nothing can possibly break tbo silence that was no less depressed be- contented itself with trailtag about dith Trine, you Idiot—not Rose!” for the time being. A blow from the the ground, he soared, he caught the causo they sat hand in hand through fifty feet in the rear, while the taxi strength of that Combination!” Blankly Alan turned to the girl. shoulder sent the other reeling to the eaves of the shed-roof, and shouting to out. fled the tenement purlieus of-the Ho Fur another minute «he rested as Her flaming face, her sullen eyes, gutter. And Alan was in the tene cease hauling, drew himself up on this Nor was their taxicab three minutes boken waterfront and found Its way »he had ever »Ince sinking Into her I ist, backed a little ways down It and of tho ferry house on the Jersey into the broader streets of an unpre her very pose, from which the man ment’s lowermost hall—a foul and c tlculating his direction nicely, vith corner of the taxicab—moveless, taut, out tit r of Rose had dropped like a cast evil-odored place, dark as a pit the shore- though the chauffeur, stimu tentious suburban quarter. iinrvs|H)ti!ii vp. a running jump launched himself out Not until they were wvll into the garment, confessed the truth of Mar- instant the door was closed, its murk ox er the street. I ben a long sigh shook her to her lator bv AlaiifS extravagant promises, rophat ’ s assertion. And as if this were was doing his beet to fracture tlie suburbs, with tew dwellings near aud relieved only by the flame of a kero very hemt. and of a aud len the small speed The momentum of his leap carried laws and escape arrest—when no pedestrians to interfere, did Marro- not enough. Judith confessed it doubly sene lamp smoking in a bracket near list In Alan', grasp relaxed and her the girl's hi ii well out over the heads of the with a sudden outbreak of such rage fears were amply justified; the foot of the stairs. phat's purpose become apparent. Then, face turned to bis like a flower to from bt'hlnd drew Alan’s head however—and it happened while Alan as never could have been brewed in Sounds of scuffling of feet were au th reng assembled in the street and the sun. a face transtigured, Ita lipa a out shout Rose's gentle nature. of the window on one side and the dible on the first landing. Alan ad truly toward that window where Rose was looking back — the touring car now soft and yielding, its eytw un- girl’« or the other and proved to bctR "You devil! ” she cried — and threw dressed himself impetuously to the was waiting. Then its force slack drew in sw iftly and easily and Marro- < h'aed and siulllng into his a smile that Marrophat had indeed found some herself in front of Marrophat with a staircase, gaming its top in half a ened, For an awful Instant he be phat, rising in his seat, leveled a re all misty with unshed tears. way to make the crossing without volver over the w indshield and fired. spring as lithe as that of a leopardess. dozen leaps, and only in time to see a lieved that he had failed. But with the Alan she breathed gently, It The crack of hie weapon was prac "Take warning now from me: keep door slammed at the forward end of last expiring ounce of impetus, he was r n’t be true! I in try Ing eo hard to great delay. His touring car was within fifty tically coincident with a metallic thud out of my way fcrever after this—or the hall and hear a key turned in its brought within grasping distance of b .Hew but all the while I know It the window sill. yards when they first were aware of beneath the rear seat of the taxicab. i take the consequences! God knows,” lock. cant be true!” Hauling htmself ap, he gathered her and Marrophat, Handing on the Not for some moments did Alan ap she panted, "why I don’t kill you as A cluster of men blocked the way. Into Ho converted a skeptic with the It; his arms . . running beard was . houting tuartlcu- you stand! ” preciate the viciousness of the scheme, He didn ’ t pause to wait for It to be ute eloquence of hl» lips . . . latelv and flourishing an imperative A great tongue of tawny flame licked He was In her way. between her and cleared, but threw himself headlong .irinimg that the gasoline tank bad Iliad upon tna shoulder, the girl bind; while the distance b. _.a pun.tvred by the bullet, be was ths opeu duor. 8Uu gave him no t into their midst, and by dint of the angrily out of the windows as be swunt her back to Eoluty.