Evening Star Newspaper, November 5, 1927, Page 20

REAL THE BLACK JOKER BY ISABEL OSTRAA\DER. (Continued from Near the head of the bridge another car stood as if stalled, with lights out and motor silenced, but when the taxi passed, follywed so closely and s nificantly by the powerful roadster, with hood shaped like a battering ram and a single figure suspiciously mufiied for so warm an evening, settled low behind the wheel, the stalled car sud- denly came to life. The motor throbbed, lights shone forth and it moved off, joining the procession at a discreet stance behind. In this order they crossed the I cidge, rattied over the cobbles of J.ong Island | City and through busy village streets o the open road. The rakish roadster could have passed the humble taxi at any point, but it evidentiy preferred to trail, and the final car was equally reticent. Janet had long since opened her eyes to watch listlessly the lights flash past her windew, but now there were only the infrequent ones strung over the road with dark and sleeping farm- houses showing like blotches against the lesser darkness of the s When she had nunm]\h\lwd what she set out to do. what remained for Dis.onsolately, she thought of ung she was, and what an terminable stretch of wear- vears lay before her! 10 some quiet place, sh® supposed; the convent, perhaps, and teach stupid children for the rest of her days, waik- ing with bowed head and folded hands in the high-walled garden and trying always to shut out the memory of that island and the terrible, sweet hours that had passed there. Sh. had heard without being wholly conscious of it the low, continuous humming of a car just behind and thought of it with a start when it seemed to fall away in the distance to a mere murmur. Had some one been following her? It was late for cars to be .pon the road on casual busi- negs, but whoever it was, they had evidently taken another turning. She hecame immersed again in her sorrow- ful thoughts. But the roadster with its single oc- cupant had not turned. A long, law stretch of the highway lay before them, dark and desert~d and bordered by deep ditches with dense trees be- vond, and it had gradually, stealthily, slackened speed, drawing farther and farther to the rear. The car behind it slowed also to maintain its distance, and the driver, a blonde, distinguished looking man of middle age, watched the tail light of the roadster with a puzzled air. Muffled as the figure behind the wheel was, he had recognized it and surmised from its presence that the taxl ahead held some one in whose identity he might also be interested. The surmise became a certainty as the two cars held to their course, but he was mystified by this latest maneuver. Nothing had gone wrong with the en- gine of the roadster, he could tell by its steady, purring note, a= * still it feil farther and farther behind. Could its occupant be awaitiug the approach of & confederate? Then the purring note deepened to a s arl and the low, slim body with its s*ister hood seemed to flatten itself in the road like gn animal crouched to spring. The third car was creeping up ecautiously upon it when with a roar it leaped forward, its wheels seeming to spurn the y.vund as it tore throu:h the night. trailer gathered speed also, the drl bending far forward in his swift angiety. Why had the roadster fallen back as though to gather impetus it it meant only to pass the taxi, but did it? Had some desperat , devilish idea entered the mind of its occupaat, an’idea of merciless destruction, as suicidal as it would be murderous? The next instant he scouted the idea, {to her that there wus the sound of | |to £he would "*"Ifllsl sensation which came | horrible nightma | screamed, | more, but now it was just at her side, ESTATE.’ His own car was of the touring type. | but with an engine geared for speed, and now, as furious as was the pace | of the other, he was creeping up on| it! I he could only catch it before it | veached the taxi, lock wheels with it | it necessary or crowd it off the road into the ditch! The driver of the taxl was deaf to the approaching nemesis. He was well on his own side of the road and intent | only on reaching his destination with | the prospect of a fat tip !efore mmX and a long loaf home; i crazy devils | like that one behind wanted to burn up the highway, let them! whey'd plenty of room. Janet. too, heard the oncoming car | with little interest, but as its rumbling roar_increased she glanced idly from |, the left window expecting it to shoot past. All at once, however, it seemed two cars, not one, and she thought he heard a vague sound of shonts | raised above the tumult, but she could | nm be sure. Without reason, in her and she r ! ched out her hand touch the chauffeur’s shoulder | warningly through the opened front | window, when, with a hideous crash the whole world was blotted out. . . . A dreadful welgh: pressing upon her. pinning her down! Tha* was the with re- ness. It was like a e and she struggled feebly to liberate herself from it, but | with the first movement came intoler- able pain! She thought that she| but heard no sound of it, | and only that swift, darting agony persisted, only that mountainous weight settled more Leavily upon her Darting pinpoints of light danced before her eyes and something like t.ars, only warm and sticky, was streaming down her face, but the weight seemed lighter, she was reely conscious of it, and the pain was dulled. Instead there came an odd buoyan she felt that she was rising, swaying as on a strong current of air, drifting. * * * Janet came to herself with a start, to feel the sensation of weight once | turning conscio. pinning her arm across her body. There was a tight band about he forehead, though, @nd a strong anti- septic odor made her nostrils and throat smart. Wonderingly she opened her eyes, to find herself lying on an Jld-fashioned tufted sofa in a quaint but totally unfamiliar room, with a white-coated man leaning over her and two women in wrappers and grotesque hair crimpers hovering about. She tried to speak, and at the move- ment of her lips the man smiled en- couragingly in a brisk, professional way. You'll do now! Swallow this if you can, and don't try to talk. There’s been a little accident, but you're all right, barring a scratch ow your fore- head and an arm !hat will have to stay quiet for a while.” Janet drank the medicine and tried to smile her thanks. “I—remember.” The words were a mere whisper. “A car ran Into us from behind.” Then all at once she started vio- lently, glancing down at her dress, which had been opened at the neck, and fumbling frantically with the one hand which would obey her impulse. That which she carried was still safe! With that knowledge relaxation came again and she heard the surgeon say: “Quiet, now! Mustn't try that,| young lady! A friend of yours hap- pened along in the nick of time, and | he’s waiting to see you when you are | strong enough. | A friend? A wild thought of Philip | Mariott flashed across her mind, but | she put it from her, scorning her own | but it persisted and with grim determi- natlon he stepped on the gas. Special Offer 7500 OPEN SUNDAY—NOON TO DARK 9th and Kearney Sts. N.E (Semi-detached, All Brick) SAVE Six nice rooms. 3 real porches (all covered). Hardwood floors (throughout). Substantial closet space. Complete basement. EDWARD STROHECKER, Inc. 1023 15th Street N.W. After 6 P.M. Telephone Wisconsin 3261 The Most Contribution —in the devel delightful new section just north of Petworth— SANS Marietta Park Homes ! human weaknes Could it be one of the | ack of cards or an ally o(’ $1,500.00 ‘Tile bath (built-in tub). Hot-water heat. Servant’s toilet. Laundry tubs. Large lot. , stores buss Main 354, 355 e———lol——F———[o|c——=n| 0] ——|0[c——|o|c——| Important opment of the BURY 5800 Block 8th N.W. 700 Block Madison Prices 57,950 ur Sample houses open Daily for your Inspection N. L 1418 Eye St. N.W. ANSBURY CO., INC. M. 5904 | tick of the clock on the mantel seemed !pense was_ endles: alarm stirred with- | EVENING Janet felt that she must the worst and murmured: 'm_strong enough now, please! Ask him to come to. me! Bring him h THE \orm-n' The hovering forms of the women had vanished, and as the surgeon left the room it was so still that the slow | tapping against her naked brain, and the thump of a fat Junebug on the wire reen at the window the blow of a padded fist. The sus- but at last foot- i steps sounded and some one approach- ed the sofa on which she Janet glanced up shrinkingly, then her eyes widened and a little cry es caped her lips, for xhe was look straight into a face from the dead! he face of Frederick Alford! CHAPTER XL Surprises. You're not dead!” Janet vl quick tearsof ang to her eyves. % afrald when | they t-hni ou down! And (Ivr‘n 1 never could get any news of H: gasped, [13 : dear, T'm very far from being dead!” Alford smiled as he patted her hand. “It just ripped my | shoulder from behind,” but I'm none the worse. “Did they take you She could not mention the ghastly cottage more definitely. *“Were vou there when I was captured the rext day? Yes, but they'd put me in the barn for safe keeping and I couldn't do anvthing for vou. Some mutual | friends found me a day and helped me to get : vou strong enough to ta Dane? T want to get you out of this as soon as possibl “I shall be all right in a few min- | utes. but please tell me what did hap- | pen.” she begged. *“Was it really an | | 0, my back there?” | Iford’s lips set grimly. Not altogether. 1 didn’t realize 1t was going forward in time or 1 ht have prevented it.” But how did you come to e here?” Janet persi “I'm trying so hard to unders “1'a l‘nllu\\ml vou from the bridge,” explained Alford. *“At least, I didn't follow you, for I didn’t know who was in the taxi, but I recognized M lin trailing it along in her car. May Carlin! interrupted ith a’little cry. “It was May Carlin!” “Yes. The fact that she I ing any one was enough to have me join in the chase, althongh 1'd really | been stationed there to look for you.” | “For me?" She raised iu’r free hand to her bandaged forehdid in be- wilderment. “But how did you know?” “You were anxious to find Nat, to have him take you to your father's| friends, and when you disappeared this morning from the hotel where | Ranny placed you, we knew tha ns of g in touch with vou would b the roads leading to Mineols are others of us waiting road —in different places.” Alford shook his head at her. “Yon are a very willful young woman to give us | all ‘this trouble!” Janet smiled and touched his hand. “I'm sorry, hut I had to do what seemed right. I hadn't any idea that May Carlin was following me, though I thought that perhaps she might try to find me. You sav it wasn't an ac- cident? You don't mean that she de- liberately drove her car into my taxi?" “I'm afraid there's no doubt about it!” Alford responded gravely. “I was behind her. and when T saw what she meant to do I tried to overtake her, | down the El———al———lal————Tol———lal———[a[———Tc} & will be adjust Maximu! ——ol———loj———o]c——=al 2 STAR., WA | but | moment | ditch SHIN but it was too late. The woman was out of her mind, of course!" Janet, remembering the scene in that room of death the night before, wasn’t 8o sure, but she Kkept her <lm|||'~¢ to he “What became of her?” she asked. “She must have beeri hurt, too! You didn’t let her get aw Alford hesitated slowly: “It would he hetter perhaps for you to know. You have nothing to fear from her in the future and she is be- yond reach of us now." “She was killed an awed whisper “Instantly. You w also had she struck ) squarely, she lost her nerve the last and swerved, catching you on the loft and hurling you into the Her own cir jumped the one farther side. but landed and then sald Janet spoke in have been on the When Planning New For Your Home “The Best Is Always the Cheapest” Window Cloth, if you desire trouble-proof shades. is ~waterproof—fadeless and Select TONTINE TONTINT washable! And when we to measure vou have a perfectly shaded home! W. STOKES SAMMONS, Proprlelor IGTON, D. C. SATURDAY. )WIEMBER 5, 1927 against a_telegraph pole, and 1 don't belleve she even knew what struck he: fow terrible!” Janet shuddered. “But my poor drivel “He's a much richer driver than | he was before, for I bought the wreck of his taxi for the price of a vv'\\‘ one and sent him home, with his license and a bruised ear. before the | ambulance came from the big hos. | pital up on the hill. He didn't suffer any further injury.” \ “Whera are_we now?" Alford followed her glance about the room and he replied: “In a_ farmhouse that fortiinately | happened to be within a hundred vards. I've satisfled the good people | here, as well as the surgeon, with| the identity I assumed for you, hvl“ I think we ought to be getting on, if you're not too unnerved to drive slowly In my car. The news of thi Shade make them stimates Cheerfully Given '~ Merchants, Attention New Stores for Lease 310-312-314 21st St. N.W. In a new desirable and rapidly growing sec- tion of this city are these one-story stores, sur- rounded by many large apartment houses and government departments and well adapted to many lines of business. 726 14th St. NW. A Home That Pride Built that circumstances offer now for $4,000 below its price. Brand new—never occupied—but as complete a Home as you ever set foot in. 1503 Van Buren Street —just off Sixteenth Street, but with all the charm of its ex- clusive environment. 9 rooms—2 baths—2-car garage T'S one of those houses that cannot well be described. The unusual features are so many; the plan so unique and original—the fittings and fixtures so consistent with the design—the details of construction so importantly exceptional. Well worth a spccial trip of inspection—and when you contrast the value with the price—you'll see the financial ad- vantage that is offered. Cut to $17,500 The cash requirement is very moderate—and the terms ed to your gonvenience, See It—that’s all we ask. Open Sunday from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M.—Other Days Inspection by CKEEVERxdGOS REALTORS I)ml With a Realtor. Main 4752 [==—=alalc———o]c————]o]c———[o]c———=la]c—— Make your reservations now to be in line for the holiday business. Excellent opportunity. McNey Realty Co., Inc. ervice M. 3920 Permit i Il i———n|———|n|c——|a|c——=|o|c———|o|e————|a[———[a|——|a|——— [s] ——[o|—— 0] o supposed accident will travel far, you Mineola and the ‘hp:m to gather around.” and fast: we're not far from neighborhood will Janet nodded understandingly. “I think I'm quite all right now— right enough, that is, to let you take me away. You REAL ESTATE. you the most. first cn board ship and ;\J:vkhorr' I don't know how to n came when 1 needed ! ~ (Continued in Tomorrow's Star.) ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY 2 More James Homes First Showing A Dehght Awaits You Sample House—6121 8th St. N.\W (Just South of Rittenhouse St.) 8 large and well prnpnr!mned rooms, built-in bath with shower; open fireplace; built-out pantry with ice box; hardwood floors throughout and beautiful natural hard- wood trim; roomy closets; decora French paneled; alley paved. large porches. ns and fixtures the very latest; best grade paper, House 20 feet wide. Lo Lot 35 feet wide. Garage; Your Immediate Inspection Urged Priced to Sell — Terms to Suit WAPLE & JAMES 1116 14th St. N.W. Main 10260 esley Peights Where nature has smiled and “Miller-Built™ has created an incomparable community HE charm of Wesley Heights lies in the sym- pathetic treatment with which it is being developed. Endowed with natural beau- ty, which architectural de- sngnmg arusncally capnal- izes and ng‘ldly protects. Tlu:' Homes Of Wes]ey Heights are not only differ- ent, but they are enshrined in a community that is with- out counterpart—producing a picture that attains to the ideal and achicves th& pl'flf‘ tical. Hevoh overys Hoiot iaw Millere Built and given a consistent setting—with generous grounds, overshadowed by towering trees and landscaped with consumate taste and skill. Only a limited number of Homes are ready and available now—for Miller-Built procedes with a deliberateness that insures ashightatandardl They range in $19,500 to $45.000. Price governs size, not quality in Wesley Heights—for in Millai- Built there is but one quality— that produced by the finest ma- terials, in the hands of skilled craftsmen. price from 2909 44th Street —is a "Miller-Built" masterpiece. Picture to yourself a grove of dogwood trees surrounding a home of ornate design—in stone and stucco artistically combined, with thatched roof, flagging walks and massive stone retaining walls—on a lot 100 feet front by 175 feet o The entrance hall prepares you for a series of wonderful surprises in plan, finish n{nd fixtures. Living room is of huge propor= tions, with book shelves on either side of the fireplace—and entrance to the spacious porch through French doors which is also approached from the dining room. Pantry and kitchen are modernly equipped. and with glassed dressers everywhere. To the left of the entrance hall is a sunny library: with open fireplace—and conven- ient andyet secluded is a lavatory. There are four bedrooms—two of them \"th complete baths: privately connected with the rooms they adjoin: while the third bath is shared by the two guest rooms. They are finished in toned tiling, and highest grade of built-in fixtures. The third floor extends over the entire house—and is completely finished as a recrea- tion room or nursery. In the basement are two servants’ rooms and complete bath: together with hot-water plant and laundry equipment. Two-car garage, designed and built to mat:k the house. Price $45,000 The financing can be urr-.mged on agreeab’e terms Home open for inspection tomorrow (Sunday) from 10 A M. to 9 P\ Motor out Massachusetts Avenue, across Wisconsin Avenue, turning left into Cathedral Avenue. 1ne ~17 St. fll(n 17.90 Ouwners and Develogers of Wesley Heights 1119 Seventeenth Street Main 1790 )