Part 10 (2/2)

”Hold tight, then, and we will wade up the side here a ways, and maybe we will find more solid bottom,” as they started up the side of the stream.

Slowly they waded in until they were in about five feet of the bank.

”I think we are going to make it all right,” said Evelyn, as she was almost jerked off her feet by Pearl falling to her knees in the water, and Mickey went out of sight.

”Hold on to me,” gasped Pearl, ”I've still got hold of her--she is in a sand-hole,” as she rose to her feet, pulling Mickey's head above water, helping her to get solid footing again.

Evelyn reached back and took hold of Mickey's free hand, and slowly they reached the bank and climbed out on solid ground again.

”Are you all right, Mickey?” came from Evelyn and Pearl at the same time.

”Yeah--I'm O. K., but I'd been a goner if Pearl hadn't had a good hold on me. That hole I fell in back there didn't have no bottom, at least, I didn't feel any--My G.o.d, what a night,” as she stooped over and felt of her stockings to see if her money was still there. ”Yeah, I still got my money, but I'll have to dry it, but wet money is better than no money.”

”Listen--what is that I hear? It sounds--there it is--somebody trying to catch another car--it's the police siren and it's coming this way as sure as you're born,” said Evelyn, ”I'll go up near the road and see if I see anything of Tony. You watch me and when you see me motion to you, come a-running, because if we are caught at this, it will be just too bad,” as she started toward the road.

”Stoop down,” said Mickey, ”We will keep low to the ground and go as close to the road as we can, so we won't have far to run when Ev motions.”

Bright lights came into sight, of a speeding car coming from town, as Evelyn came up on the edge of the road, and as the car came near her, its brakes began to scream, as lights following it came into view, with the shrieking of the police siren.

”Quick, get in,” said the voice of a man, as the car came to a stop.

”The cops are wise.”

”Oh, Jees, where are Pearl and Mickey?” as she jerked the door of the car open.

”Here,” as they came alongside of Evelyn.

Tony s.h.i.+fted the gears of the car, and was moving, as the three pulled and helped each other in, the other car nearing, with the siren screaming louder and louder. Tony shot into the night. ”Lay down on the floor, girls, and get ready for the ride of your life. If I can beat the cops to the fork of the Mesa road, we have a chance--if not--we are jail-house bound for some time to come.”

”What the h.e.l.l are we pa.s.sing that's throwing all that light,” asked Pearl.

”It's some cement company,” answered Evelyn, as they went into darkness again.

”Hey, Tony, how do you think they found out about this?” asked Mickey.

”One of them lousy telephone operators tipped them off, that is the only way they could have found out--the dirty fluzey.”

”Good G.o.d--I hope we get away from them all right,” murmured Pearl, as the car lurched and shot through the deepening dark.

”Are we leaving them behind yet, Tony?”

”Not yet we ain't, not till we get off these curves, but when we get on that straight stretch of road, I'll leave 'em plenty far behind.”

”Hey, Tony,” said Evelyn, as she got up on her knees, with her hands on the back of the front seat, ”You don't think they could have sent a car out on the Mesa road, maybe to head us off, do you?”

”Well, that's a chance we got to take, but I don't think they would have had time even if they had thought, which they probably didn't--but I'll tell you something--we gotta leave that bunch quick when we hit that straight piece of road, if we don't they will try to shoot the rear tires off. You girls stay on the floor, in case they do shoot.”

”O. K., Tony,” said Evelyn, as she got back down on the floor.

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