Panting and puffing, pedalling with all his might, straining his eyes
to see through the dark the car that was flying along without lights,
his hair sticking endwise, his sleepy hungry face peering wanly through
the dark, he plodded after. Over the Highway! He slowed down and wasn't
quite sure till he heard the chug of the engine ahead, and a few
seconds later a red light bloomed out behind and he drew a new breath
and pedalled on again, his heart throbbing wildly, the collar of his
pajamas sticking up wildly like his hair, and one pajama leg showing
whitely below his trouser like a tattered banner. The pedals cut his
bare feet, and he shivered though he was drenched with perspiration,
but he leaned far over his handle bars and pedalled on.
Down past the Blue Duck Tavern, and on into the village of Economy the
car went, not rapidly now as though it were running away, but slower,
and steadier like a car on legitimate business and gravely with a
necessary object in view. Billy's heart began to quake. Not for nothing
had he learned to read by signs and actions at the feet of the master
Mark. An inner well-developed sense began to tell him the truth.
The car stopped in front of the Chief's house, and a horn sounded
softly once. Billy dismounted hastily and vanished into the shadows. A
light appeared in the upper window of the house and all was still.
Presently the light upstairs went out, the front door opened showing a
dimmer light farther in, and showing the outline of the Chief in
flannel shirt and trousers. He came down the walk and spoke with the
man in the car, and the car started again and turned in at the Chief's
drive way, going back to the garage.
Billy left his wheel against a hedge and hiked noiselessly after,
slinking behind the garage door till the driver came out. It was
Mark!
He went down the drive, met the Chief at the gate and they went
silently down the dark street, their rubber heels making no noise on
the pavement. Economy was asleep and no wiser, but Billy's heart was
breaking. He watched the two and followed afar till they turned down
the side street which he feared. He stole after and saw them enter the
brick building that harbored the County Jail. He waited with shaking
limbs and bleeding heart, waited, hoping, fearing, dreading, but not
for long. The Chief came out alone! It was as he had feared.
Then as if the very devil himself pursued him, Billy turned and fled,
retrieving his bicycle and whirled away noiselessly down the road,
caring not where he was going, ready to hang himself, wild with despair
and self-condemnation.