But in, his hasty survey Don had failed to notice a banana peel
lying just beyond the curb-stone. As ill luck would have it, he
stepped on this and the next second measured his length in the
street, thus verifying the old adage, " There's many a slip 'twixt
the cup and the lip."
The noise alarmed the policeman, and he turned just in time
to see the two disappear into the alley with their burden. Im
mediately there came a shrill whistle and the sound of hurried
footsteps. Hal turned to Don in despair.
" We're in for it now," said he. " Let's drop the thing and
run. They'll stop to investigate and we can get away."
" Not on your daguerrotype," replied his ally as they sped
swiftly along. " You untie the horse while I stow away the
Indian, and we'll give them the slip yet. Here's the rig. Be
lively, now."
It seemed scarcely half a minute ere they were driving madly
down the street into the outskirts of the town. But quick as
they had been others were just as swift. Soon they heard hoof
beats behind them growing louder each minute. Their hearts
were in their throats, and their excited imaginations could see
only capture and disgrace ahead. Don, however, was determined
to see the thing to the end.
" Hang it all," said Hal; '' I'm sorry we ever thought of this
lark. How the deuce will we get out of the serape?"
" Better wait till we're in it," replied Don.
Just then, as they turned a sharp curve in the road, a dark ob
ject loomed up in the roadway directly ahead of them. Don drew
up sharply to prevent the imminent collision. Then he noticed
that the object was a carriage moving away from them. A
moment later he gripped Hal's arm in a grasp that made that
Young man wince.
" We're saved," he cried, excitedly. And the whip descended
with biting emphasis upon the flanks of their steed. The buggy
rolled and pitched in an alarming manner and threatened to land
them all in a confused mass of wreckage by the roadside. But
Don's arm was steady and his eye clear, and in a few seconds he
had caught up to and passed the vehicle ahead of them. 'By this
time Hal had regained his senses.
" What do you mean—how are we saved ?" he asked, anxiously.
" Why, man, can't you see? Those officers will follow the
buggy behind us in the belief that we're in it, while we shall turn
The Free Lance
[JANUARY,