ng at the door in the rear gave new cause for fright, he
added: "Thank goodness, the old bearded woman has gone around back to
get in!"

Half a minute more, and both were out upon the walk. Garrison carrying
his book, his pistol once more in his pocket.

A yell, and a shrill penetrative whistle from the rear of the house,
now told of Theodore's activities at the window of the room where he
and his father were imprisoned. He was doubtless making ready to let
himself down to the ground.

"We may have to make a lively run," said Garrison. "My motor-car is
two blocks away."

They were still a block from the waiting car when, with yells and a
furious blowing of his whistle, Theodore came running to the street
before his house. One minute later a big red car, with the chief of
the town's police and the chief of the local firemen, shot around the
corner into Myrtle Avenue, and came to a halt before the residence
which the fugitives had just barely quitted.

"Make a run for it now, we're in for a race," said Garrison, and, with
Dorothy skipping in excitement beside him, he came to his waiting
chauffeur.

"That fellow up the street is on our trail!" he said. "Cut loose all
the speed you've got. Fifty dollars bonus if you lose the bunch before
you cross the bridge to New York!"

He helped Dorothy quickly to her seat inside, and only pausing to note
that Theodore was clambering hotly into the big red car, two long
village blocks away, he swung in himself as the driver speeded up the
motor.

Then, with a whir and a mighty lurch as the clutch went in, the
automobile started forward in the road.

Ten seconds later they were running full speed, with the muffler cut
out, and sharp percussions puncturing the air like a Gatling gun's
terrific detonations.

The race for New York had commenced.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE RACE

Some of the roads on Long Island are magnificent. Many of the speed
laws are strict. The thoroughfare stretching ahead of the two cars was
one of the best.

The traffic regulations suffered absolute demolition.

Like a liberated thing of flame and deviltry, happiest when rocketing
through space, the car beneath the fugitives seemed to bound in the air
as it whirred with a higher and higher hum of wheels and gears, and the
air drove by in torrential force, leaving a cloud of smoke and dust in
their wake.

Dorothy clung to Jerold, half afraid. He raised himself upon the seat
and looked o