Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

216 next phase of the pian was not “ blowed open ” by any presumptuous intruder. He steadied his forearm as the limousine struck a hilly spot, where sand for a hun- dred yards or so replaced macadam. Pancake, despite his momemtum, was forced to “second speed” by the spinning rear wheels in the loose soil. Hard behind came Hank Thomas, one palm uplifted—the token of peace to sav- ages the world over. Goose-eye grinned. Fifty yards nearer and he would “cook” this chap with a shot between the eyes. Then he grumbled, replaced the safety catch to his weapon, and scrambled down by his pal, to whom the torrential roar of the approaching motor cycle now came au- dibly for the first time, above his own ex- haust. In a trice Hank Thomas was alongside. Pancake glared at Goose-eye. “ Wot’s eatin’ youse?” he demanded. * Aw, he ain’t no cop—”’ “Gentlemen,” said Hank Thomas, “there is a lady present. Please let her leave the machine. That’s all.” “East Lynn stuff,” gibbered Pancake. “Well, dis ain’t no time for carryin’ added weight. Goose-eye, where’s yer manners? Let the frail outa the-Side door.” “Thank you,” said Hank as Dorothy Dale, rather disheveled as to hat and rather white as to face, stepped into the highway. ““Shoot!”? said Goose-eye, leaping back beside Pancake. ‘ What do you know about that guy? He ain’t had no bringin’ up. He didn’t bawl me out yisterday, and he tipped me a quarter for them bananas dis mornin’. Also, when I sends him a lead bokay, he grins and keeps right on. How did youse spring dat joint? You come t’ru like it was wet paper.” ‘“Me gardeen, the screw with the keys to the bedroom stairway, was takin’ a nap, for one thing,” grinned Pancake, as they rippled back to their former hectic speed. “The sheriff ‘ll ast him why, and he won’t know. But, did youse pipe that frail? Well, she sprung me—only she don’t know it, either. Some frail! “The guy wot cooked the mayor was also very much in on dis—but he don’t ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, know it, neither. What folks don’t know don’t trouble ’em. The old Santa Claus wid the pink necktie that I rammed just over his watch-pocket, didn’t do no advance worryin’, either, when I came through a flock of respectability that was in the big room. Is the mob on hand?” ‘Waitin’ down by the old mill, accord- in’ to book,” chanted Goose-eye. ‘“ Hen- nessy was up and give me the office last night. Well, let the old bus die a natural death—she’s a good old bus, at that!” “Suits me,” said Pancake, shooting into an open field and heading for a thick woods. It was here, an hour later, that the pur- suing posse found the limousine, uninjured. A driver of a vanload of furniture lum- bering heavily toward Downington gave them directions which were essentially ac- curate, when the two autos of armed men recruited by Sheriff Butts hailed the stolid chap. When they were two miles out of the ken of the driver and out of sight as well, owing to a bend in the road, he lifted the panel ing the covered vehicle behind him and asked: “ All right, Pancake?” “Yep. Keep movin’, Hennessy. Dese rube deppity sheruffs ’ll git tired wadin’ around in the swamps and barking their corns on the loose rocks, and they’ll come straight home to git their names in the poi- pers. By then, Hennessy, we oughta have ‘the little old man’ on the box we’re goin’ after.” : The pursuing posse, however, did not en- counter any sign of either Hank Thomas or Miss Dorothy Dale on the road, owing to Hank’s foresight. Besides, that was not their real objective. And, in the interim, the reporter and the girl, after a few flurried inquiries and as hasty replies, in keeping with Hank’s nim- ble-witted suggestion turned down another road, which led to the railway junction by which Downington was reached. Hank had a supplemental seat and on this Miss Dale perched, although rather in- congruously attired for such a method of traveling. At the little junction hotel where they brought up, Hank explained that the lady’s car was “out of order,” and she would entrain after a bite to eat. EOPMIC OOO KS (E@)