CHAPTER XXI THE MAN IN GRAY
"I know of an odd old custom which might prove interesting," said Laurieas the three of them walked arm in arm along the boulevard. "I'veforgotten to what little out of the way corner of the world it belongs,but anyway, in the villages of that land, sometime near to midnight, onChristmas Eve, friends gather about small tables in their taverns andover the festive board talk of the year that is gone. The strange part isthis: Just to make it a clearing up time of unsolved problems, eachmember of the group may select one other member of that group and may askhim three questions. Each member is pledged to answer all three questionsfrankly and truthfully."
"Oh!" exclaimed Cordie. "I'd not like to get caught in a crowd likethat."
"Too bad," sighed Laurie. "I was about to propose that a half hour beforemidnight we get together to celebrate in just that way. I think I canpick up a person or two whose secrets would be of interest to some peopleI know."
"That would be wonderful," exclaimed Lucile. "But must we select oneperson, only one?"
"One, that's all."
"And ask him just three questions; no more?"
"Not another one."
"Eenie-meenie-minie-mo," exclaimed Lucile, pointing her finger first atCordie, then at Laurie,
"Catch a monkey by the toe, If he hollers, let him go, Eenie-meenie-minie-mo.
"Laurie, you're my choice," she laughed. "I'll ask three questions ofyou, though goodness knows I'd like to ask them of Cordie."
"Wait," said Laurie holding up a warning finger. "There may be someonethere who is more interesting to you than we are."
"There's only one such person in the world," exclaimed Lucile, "and--andI hope I may meet her before that hour comes."
She was a little surprised at the glances Laurie and Cordie exchanged andgreatly puzzled by the fact that they did not ask her who that personwas.
Laurie and Cordie gave themselves over to the gaiety of the night. Theblazing light, the splendid cars that went gliding down the Boulevard,the magnificent furs worn by those who chose to promenade the broadsidewalk, were sights to catch any eye.
They did not hold Lucile's attention. She had eyes for but one sight, theglimpse of a single face. What that glimpse would mean to her! Room rentpaid, term bills paid, a warm coat, other needed clothing, a last minutepresent which she had been too poor to purchase, and a snug little sum inthe bank. All these it would mean, and more; two hundred in gold.
But the face did not appear. For an hour they walked the Boulevard, yetno sight of the Mystery Lady, she of the Christmas Spirit, came to them.One matter troubled Lucile more and more. Often in her search she lookedbehind her. More than once, four times in fact, she had caught sight of aman who walked always at exactly the same distance behind them. A tallman, it was, with a long gray coat, a high collar turned up and cappulled low.
"It isn't just because he happens to be walking in our direction," shetold herself with a little shiver. "Twice we have turned and walked backand once we crossed the street. But all the time he has been directlybehind us. I wonder what it could mean?"
At that moment there came the clatter of hoofs and four mountedpolicemen, clad in bright uniform, came riding down the Boulevard.
"It's a big night," exclaimed Laurie. "There's a special squad of themout."
"Oh there--there he is!" exclaimed Cordie. "There's Dick! That's PatrickO'Hara riding him! Aren't they splendid? And right beside him is Tim,good old Tim. See! They recognized me. They touched their hats!"
"Who's Tim?" asked Lucile.
"Don't you wish you knew?" taunted Cordie. "If only you were going to askyour questions of me you'd be sure to find out."
"Don't worry," smiled Laurie. "I've just decided that you shall be theperson to answer my three questions."
"You horrid thing! I shan't go! I'm off your old party!" In mock anger,she sprang away from her companions and went racing on ahead of them.
Then strange and startling things began to happen. A long, low-built blueroadster, which had been creeping along the curb as if looking forsomeone, came to a grinding stop. A man leaped out. A second later apiercing scream reached the ears of Laurie and Lucile.
"It's Cordie!" exclaimed Lucile. "Some--something terrible! C'mon!"
As she said this a gray streak shot past her. Even in this wild moment ofexcitement, she recognized the man who had been dogging their footstepsand she wondered why she had not recognized him sooner.
The next second they were in the midst of things. With wildly beatingheart Lucile stared at the panorama that was enacted before her.Powerless to aid, she saw Cordie, the innocent country girl, the centerof a battle, snatched from hand to hand until it seemed the very lifemust be torn from her.
First she caught a glimpse of her fighting frantically but vainly in thegrasp of a man. Lucile recognized him instantly.
"The hawk-eyed man!" she whispered. "The one who claimed to be herbrother! Quick!" she exclaimed, gripping Laurie's arm until her fingerscut into the very flesh. "Quick! They're taking her to the auto. They'llcarry her away!"
Active as he was, Laurie was not the first to leap at the hawk-eyed one.A man in gray, the man who had been following them, sprang squarely atthe captor's throat.
With a howl of rage and fear the villain loosed one hand to strike out athis mysterious assailant. All in vain; the rescuer came straight on.Striking the captor squarely in the middle, he bowled him over like aten-pin. So sudden was this attack that Cordie was also thrown to thepavement.
Finding herself free and unharmed, she sprang to her feet. She felt ahand at her elbow and turned to look into the face of Laurie Seymour.
"Ah!" she breathed, "I am safe!"
But even as she said this she saw Laurie collapse like an empty sack, andthe next instant grasped from behind by two clutching hands, she wasagain whirled toward the kidnapper's car.
Half blinded by terror, she caught a vision of police blue that hoveredabove her.
"Pat! Patrick O'Hara!" she called.
There came the angry crack of an automatic. Then the figure in blue camehurtling off the horse to fall at her feet. At the same instant there wasa second catapult-like blow of the man in gray. Again she was snatchedfree.
"Jiggers! Beat it! Beat it!" she heard in a hoarse whisper. The nextinstant the door to the blue car slammed shut and its wheels began tomove.
For three seconds she wavered there, watching the car move away. Thencatching a glimpse of Patrick O'Hara lying at her feet, wounded, perhapsdead, a great courage came to her.
"They must not escape!" she screamed. "They shall not!"
The next instant she leaped into the saddle of the police horse, Dick.Just as the noble animal dashed away she felt the solid impact of someonemounting behind her.
One glance she cast behind her. "Oh!" she breathed. It was the man ingray. To Dick she whispered: "All right, Dick, old dear, Go! Go fast! Forthe love of Patrick O'Hara and Laurie Seymour; for the love of all that'sgood and true, go; go as you never went before!"
There was no need to talk to Dick. He was away like the wind.
It was a moment of high suspense and swift action; one of those momentswhen success or failure hinges on the right move at the right second.