the mad king-第37部分

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tion　all　her　life　that　the　least　exertion　would　prove　her　undoing；　but　no　hardy　peasant　girl　could　have　endured　more　bravely　the　hardships　and　dangers　through　which　the　Princess　Emma　had　passed　since　the　sun　rose　that　morning。

At　last　darkness　came；　and　with　it　they　approached　and　entered　the　village。　　They　kept　to　unlighted　side　streets　until　they　met　a　villager；　of　whom　they　inquired　their　way　to　some　private　house　where　they　might　obtain　refreshments。　The　fellow　scrutinized　them　with　evident　suspicion。

〃There　is　an　inn　yonder；〃　he　said；　pointing　toward　the　main　street。　　〃You　can　obtain　food　there。　　Why　should　re…　spectable　folk　want　to　go　elsewhere　than　to　the　public　inn？　And　if　you　are　afraid　to　go　there　you　must　have　very　good　reasons　for　not　wanting　to　be　seen；　and〃　he　stopped　short　as　though　assailed　by　an　idea。　　〃Wait；〃　he　cried；　excitedly；　〃I　will　go　and　see　if　I　can　find　a　place　for　you。　　Wait　right　here；〃　and　off　he　ran　toward　the　inn。

〃I　don't　like　the　looks　of　that；〃　said　Barney；　after　the　man　had　left　them。　　〃He's　gone　to　report　us　to　someone。　Come；　we'd　better　get　out　of　here　before　he　comes　back。〃

The　two　turned　up　a　side　street　away　from　the　inn。　　They　had　gone　but　a　short　distance　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　voices　and　the　thud　of　horses'　feet　behind　them。　　The　horses　were　coming　at　a　walk　and　with　them　were　several　men　on　foot。　　Barney　took　the　princess'　hand　and　drew　her　up　a　hedge　bordered　driveway　that　led　into　private　grounds。　　In　the　shadows　of　the　hedge　they　waited　for　the　party　behind　them　to　pass。　　It　might　be　no　one　searching　for　them；　but　it　was　just　as　well　to　be　on　the　safe　sidethey　were　still　near　Blentz。　　Before　the　men　reached　their　hiding　place　a　motor　car　followed　and　caught　up　with　them；　and　as　the　party　came　opposite　the　driveway　Barney　and　the　princess　over…　heard　a　portion　of　their　conversation。

〃Some　of　you　go　back　and　search　the　street　behind　the　innthey　may　not　have　come　this　way。〃　　The　speaker　was　in　the　motor　car。　　〃We　will　follow　along　this　road　for　a　bit　and　then　turn　into　the　Lustadt　highway。　　If　you　don't　find　them　go　back　along　the　road　toward　Tann。〃

In　her　excitement　the　Princess　Emma　had　not　noticed　that　Barney　Custer　still　held　her　hand　in　his。　　Now　he　pressed　it。　〃It　is　Maenck's　voice；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Every　road　will　be　guarded。〃

For　a　moment　he　was　silent；　thinking。　　The　searching　party　had　passed　on。　　They　could　still　hear　the　purring　of　the　motor　as　Maenck's　car　moved　slowly　up　the　street。

〃This　is　a　driveway；〃　murmured　Barney。　　〃People　who　build　driveways　into　their　grounds　usually　have　something　to　drive。　　Whatever　it　is　it　should　be　at　the　other　end　of　the　driveway。　　Let's　see　if　it　will　carry　two。〃

Still　in　the　shadow　of　the　hedge　they　moved　cautiously　toward　the　upper　end　of　the　private　road　until　presently　they　saw　a　building　looming　in　their　path。

〃A　garage？〃　whispered　Barney。

〃Or　a　barn；〃　suggested　the　princess。

〃In　either　event　it　should　contain　something　that　can　go；〃　returned　the　American。　　〃Let　us　hope　that　it　can　go　like　likeahthe　wind。〃

〃And　carry　two；〃　supplemented　the　princess。

〃Wait　here；〃　said　Barney。　　〃If　I　get　caught；　run。　　What…　ever　happens　you　mustn't　be　caught。〃

Princess　Emma　dropped　back　close　to　the　hedge　and　Barney　approached　the　building；　which　proved　to　be　a　private　garage。　　The　doors　were　locked；　as　also　were　the　three　windows。　　Barney　passed　entirely　around　the　structure　halting　at　last　upon　the　darkest　side。　　Here　was　a　window。　Barney　tried　to　loosen　the　catch　with　the　blade　of　his　pocket　knife；　but　it　wouldn't　unfasten。　　His　endeavors　resulted　only　in　snapping　short　the　blade　of　his　knife。　　For　a　moment　he　stood　contemplating　the　baffling　window。　　He　dared　not　break　the　glass　for　fear　of　arousing　the　inmates　of　the　house　which；　though　he　could　not　see　it；　might　be　close　at　hand。

Presently　he　recalled　a　scene　he　had　witnessed　on　State　Street　in　Chicago　several　years　beforea　crowd　standing　before　the　window　of　a　jeweler's　shop　inspecting　a　neat　little　hole　that　a　thief　had　cut　in　the　glass　with　a　diamond　and　through　which　he　had　inserted　his　hand　and　brought　forth　several　hundred　dollars　worth　of　loot。　　But　Barney　Custer　wore　no　diamondhe　would　as　soon　have　worn　a　celluloid　collar。　　But　women　wore　diamonds。　　Doubtless　the　Princess　Emma　had　one。　　He　ran　quickly　to　her　side。

〃Have　you　a　diamond　ring？〃　he　whispered。

〃Gracious！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃you　are　progressing　rapidly；〃　and　slipped　a　solitaire　from　her　finger　to　his　hand。

〃Thanks；〃　said　Barney。　　〃I　need　the　practice；　but　wait　and　you'll　see　that　a　diamond　may　be　infinitely　more　valuable　than　even　the　broker　claims；〃　and　he　was　gone　again　into　the　shadows　of　the　garage。　　Here　upon　the　window　pane　he　scratched　a　rough　deep　circle；　close　to　the　catch。　　A　quick　blow　sent　the　glass　clattering　to　the　floor　within。　　For　a　minute　Barney　stood　listening　for　any　sign　that　the　noise　had　attracted　attention；　but　hearing　nothing　he　ran　his　hand　through　the　hole　that　he　had　made　and　unlatched　the　frame。　　A　moment　later　he　had　crawled　within。

Before　him；　in　the　darkness；　stood　a　roadster。　　He　ran　his　hand　over　the　pedals　and　levers；　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief　as　his　touch　revealed　the　familiar　control　of　a　standard　make。　　Then　he　went　to　the　double　doors。　　They　opened　easily　and　silently。

Once　outside　he　hastened　to　the　side　of　the　waiting　girl。

〃It's　a　machine；〃　he　whispered。　　〃We　must　both　be　in　it　when　it　leaves　the　garageit's　the　through　express　for　Lus…　tadt　and　makes　no　stops　for　passengers　or　freight。〃

He　led　her　back　to　the　garage　and　helped　her　into　the　seat　beside　him。　　As　silently　as　possible　he　ran　the　machine　into　the　driveway。　　A　hundred　yards　to　the　left；　half　hidden　by　intervening　trees　and　shrubbery；　rose　the　dark　bulk　of　a　house。　　A　subdued　light　shone　through　the　drawn　blinds　of　several　windowsthe　only　sign　of　life　about　the　premises　until　the　car　had　cleared　the　garage　and　was　moving　slowly　down　the　driveway。　　Then　a　door　opened　in　the　house　let…　ting　out　a　flood　of　light　in　which　the　figure　of　a　man　was　silhouetted。　　A　voice　broke　the　silence。

〃Who　are　you？　　What　are　you　doing　there？　　Come　back！〃

The　man　in　the　doorway　called　excitedly；　〃Friedrich！　　Come！　Come　quickly！　　Someone　is　stealing　the　automobile；〃　and　the　speaker　came　running　toward　the　driveway　at　top　speed。　Behind　him　came　Friedrich。　　Both　were　shouting；　waving　their　arms　and　threatening。　　Their　combined　din　might　have　aroused　the　dead。

Barney　sought　speedsilence　now　was　useless。　　He　turned　to　the　left　into　the　street　away　from　the　center　of　the　town。　In　this　direction　had　gone　the　automobile　with　Maenck；　but　by　taking　the　first　righthand　turn　Barney　hoped　to　elude　the　captain。　　In　a　moment　Friedrich　and　the　other　were　hopelessly　distanced。　　It　was　with　a　sigh　of　relief　that　the　American　turned　the　car　into　the　dark　shadows　beneath　the　overarching　trees　of　the　first　cross　street。

He　was　running　without　lights　along　an　unknown　way；　and　beside　him　was　the　most　precious　burden　that　Barney　Custer　might　ever　expect　to　carry。　　Under　these　circumstances　his　speed　was　greatly　reduced　from　what　he　would　have　wished；　but　at　that　he　was　forced　to　accept　grave　risks。　　The　road　might　end　abruptly　at　the　brink　of　a　ravineit　might　swerve　perilously　close　to　a　stone　quarryor　plunge　head…　long　into　a　pond　or　river。　　Barney　shuddered　at　the　possibili…　ties；　but　nothing　of　the　sort　happened。　　The　street　ran　straight　out　of　the　town　into　a　country　road；　rather　heavy　with　sand。　　In　the　open　the　possibilities　of　speed　were　increased；　for　the　night；　though　moonless；　was　clear；　and　the　road　visible　for　some　distance　ahead。

The　fugitives　were　congratulating　themselves　upon　the　ex…　cellent　chance　they　now　had　to　reach　Lustadt。　　There　was　only　Maenck　and　his　companion　ahead　of　them　in　the　other　car；　and　as　there　were　several　roads　by　which　one　might　reach　the　main　highway　the　chances　were　fair　that　Prince　Peter's　aide　would　miss　them　completely。

Already　escape　seemed　assured　when　the　pounding　of　horses'　hoofs　upon　the　roadway　behind　them　arose　to　blast　their　new　found　hope。　　Barney　increased　the　speed　of　the　car。　　It　leaped　ahead　in　response　to　his　foot；　but　the　road　was　heavy；　and　the　sides　of　the　ruts　gripping　the　tires　re…　tarded　the　speed。　　For　a　mile　they　held　the　lead　of　the　galloping　horsemen。　　The　shouts　of　their　pursuers　fell　clearly　upon　their　ears；　and　the　Princess　Emma；　turning　in　her　seat；　could　easily　see　the　four　who　followed。　　At　last　the　car　be…　gan　to　draw　awaythe　distance　between　it　and　the　riders　grew　gradually　greater。

〃I　believe　we　are　going　to　make　it；〃　whispered　the　girl；　her　voice　tense　with　excitement。　　〃If　you　could　only　go　a　little　faster；　Mr。　Custer；　I'm　sure　that　we　will。〃

〃She's　reached　her　limit　in　this　sand；〃　replied　the　man；　〃and　there's　a　grade　just　aheadwe　may　find　better　going　beyond；　but　they're　bound　to　gain　on　us　before　we　reach　the　top。〃

The　girl　strained　her　eyes　into　the　night　before　them。　　On　the　right　of　the　road　stood　an　ancient　ruingrim　and　for…　bidding。　　As　her　eyes　rested　upon　it　she　gave　a　little　ex…　clamation　of　relief。

〃I　know　where　we　are　now；〃　she　cried。　　〃The　hill　ahead　is　sandy；　and　there　is　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of　sand　beyond；　but　then　we　strike　the　Lustadt　highway；　and　if　we　can　reach　it　ahead　of　them　their　horses　will　have　to　go　ninety　miles　an　hour　to　catch　usprovided　this　car　possesses　any　such　speed　possibilities。〃

〃If　it　can　go　forty　we　are　safe　enough；〃　replied　Barney；　〃but　we'll　give　it　a　chance　to　go　as　fast　as　it　canthe　farther　we　are　from　the　vicinity　of　Blentz　the　safer　I　shall　feel　for　the　welfare　of　your　highness。〃

A　shot　rang　behind　them；　and　a　bullet　whistled　high　above　their　heads。　　The　princess　seized　the　carbine　that　rested　on　the　seat　between　them。

〃Shall　I？〃　she　asked；　turning　its　muzzle　back　over　the　low…　ered　top。

〃Better　not；〃　answered　the　man。　　〃They　are　only　trying　to　frighten　us　into　surrenderingthat　shot　was　much　too　high　to　have　been　aimed　at　usthey　are　shooting　over　our　heads　purposely。　　If　they　deliberately　attempt　to　pot　us　later；　then　go　for　them；　but　to　do　it　now　would　only　draw　their　fire　upon　us。　　I　doubt　if　they　wish　to　harm　your　highness；　but　they　certainly　would