Part 47 (1/2)

Jimmie Dale glanced backward through the little window in the hood.

”There's another taxi just turned in from Sixth Avenue,” he reported the next instant.

”Keep your eye on it!” instructed the chauffeur shortly.

The speed of the cab increased sensibly.

With a curious tightening of his lips, Jimmie Dale settled himself in his seat so that he could watch the cab behind. There was trouble coming, intuitively he sensed that; and, he reflected bitterly, he might have known! It was too marvellous, too wonderful ever to come to pa.s.s that this one hour, the thought of which had fired his blood and made him glad beyond any gladness life had ever held for him before, should bring its promised happiness.

”Where's the cab now?” the chauffeur flung back over his shoulder.

They had pa.s.sed Fifth Avenue, and were nearing Broadway.

”About the same distance behind,” Jimmie Dale answered.

”That looks bad!” the chauffeur gritted between his teeth. ”We'll have to make sure. I'll run down Lower Broadway.”

”If you think we're followed,” suggested Jimmie Dale quietly, ”why not run uptown and give them the slip somewhere where the traffic is thick?

Lower Broadway at this time of night is as empty and deserted as a country road.”

The chauffeur's sudden laugh was mirthless.

”My G.o.d, you don't know what you are talking about!” he burst out. ”If they're following, all h.e.l.l couldn't throw them off the track. And I've got to know, I've got to be SURE before I dare make a move to-night. I couldn't tell up in the crowded districts if I was followed, could I?

They won't come out into the open until their hands are forced.”

The car swerved sharply, rounded the corner, and, speeding up faster and faster, began to tear down Lower Broadway.

”Watch! WATCH!” cried the chauffeur.

There was no word between them for a moment; then Jimmie Dale spoke crisply:

”It's turned the corner! It's coming this way!”

The taxicab was rocking violently with the speed; silent, empty, Lower Broadway stretched away ahead. Apart from an occasional street car, probably there would be nothing between them and the Battery. Jimmie Dale glanced at his companion's face as a light, flas.h.i.+ng by, threw it into relief. It was set and stern, even a little haggard; but, too, there was something else there, something that appealed instantly to Jimmie Dale--a sort of bulldog grit that dominated it.

”If he holds our speed, we'll know!” the chauffeur was shouting now to make himself heard over the roar of the car. ”Look again! Where is it now?”

Once more Jimmie Dale looked through the little rear window. The cab had been a block behind them when it had turned the corner, and he watched it now in a sort of grim fascination. There was no possible doubt of it!

The two bobbing, bouncing headlights were creeping steadily nearer. And then a sort of unnatural calm settled upon Jimmie Dale, and his hand went mechanically to his pocket to feel his automatic there, as he turned again to the chauffeur.

”If you've got any more speed, you'd better use it!” he said significantly.

The man shot a quick look at him.

”They are following us? You are SURE?”

”Yes,” said Jimmie Dale.

The chauffeur laughed again in that mirthless, savage way.