The Motor Pirate

TOR P

OF TRAVELLER

ger on a Myster

Flag near

r at once sent a representative to make inquiries on the spot. His inquiries reveal the existence o

vening, but were delayed by a puncture. When about eight miles from Salisbury they were attacked by the occupant of another car, who wrecked their vehicle, and, after robbing them of all their valuables, decam

cial correspo

Chamberla

ubject. I found, however, that the affair had been reported at the county police office; and I at once drove on here, and am now in a position to assert that this quiet Wiltshire village has been the scene of the

ar was drawn to the side of the road, or rather the remains of what had once been a smart Daimler of some 7 or 8 h.p. A stonebreaker was at work on an adjacent pile of

that the owners had met with an accident, he knew nothing. There was no doubt about the accident

hamberlain

ough to give me a full account of his unique adventure. It seems the two gentlemen had been touring in the west country for ten days, and were on their way home. They stopped the previous night at Exeter, leaving about ten in the morning with the intention of reaching Salisbury about five or six yesterday evening. They lunched at Ilminster, and afterwards had

ntil 8.30. At the hotel they met another party of motorists, and, agreeing to dine together, it was not until after ten that they found themselves once more on their way, with twenty miles of a hilly road to cover. The lateness of the hour did not trouble them much. They had wired to Salisbury f

wind was blowing behind them, they found there was more downhill than up, the road was absolutely

course, unable to glance back, as all his faculties were engaged in driving the car; but Mr. Roberts, whose attention was attracted at the same moment, informed him that another motor-car was coming up behind. Then, to quote Mr. Bradshaw's own words, 'Thin

y built for racing on the track, but only for a moment. The strange car slackening speed, al

th a mica plate in front) and he replied, "Yes; I fancy my car is fast enough to overtake anything that is to be found on the road." There was something in his tone that struck me as peculiar, but I merely attributed it to the motorist's pride in his car. As however he said nothing further, but continued to keep alongside, in a manner that lo

t?" I demanded, wi

nd over all your money and

us in the ditch. Will you believe it? Even in that swerve the strange car followed mine, and when I

uce do you mea

emper," he answered coolly. "I must, howe

fell over the steering wheel, and made my car swerve again. But this time we swerved towards, instead of away from, the stranger. I doubt whether there was light enough for him to have read my intention in my face, but it was obvious that he ant

ing fortunately been thrown on the soft turf. Roberts was lying unconscious on the road; the car was smashed to bits; our pockets had been t

lisbury fortunately made its appearance on the scene. Assistance was procured, and the two injured gentlemen were conveyed to Compton, and medical attention quickly provided. Th

he body is not raised more than eighteen inches from the ground. The wheels are either within the body, or so sheathed that they are completely hidden. It has apparently seating accommodation for two persons, the seat being placed immediately in the centre of the car. Mr. Bradshaw is quite convinced that petrol

tory when I felt a tap on the shoulder, and, loo

seen any one so completely enthralled in a newspaper in my

feet, and hel

ivision? When you come to my years of discret

of the divorce court, Colonel," I r

al being," he said, "I prefer my stories with my

ng a signal to the waiter, the hors d'?uvre were

the fish his features attained repose. When we reached the entrée his face had the radiance of a translated saint's. Then, with my mind at rest as to the effect of my little dinner upon my chief guest, I found time to devote a little attention to Winter. Yet, bearing in mind the Colonel's objection to anything but light generalit

"what's this I saw on the evening

t to taste the glass of port which stood before him, and which I had

remark that the whole narrative was "a concoction of some of those newspaper fellows.

wspaper would dare hoax its readers

the Colonel, vigorously. "I have known them on mo

s are different. They are referring to people who are able to reply if th

rowled th

de the victims of a practical joke. To-morrow is the first of April, remember. Or even apart from the joke theory, the eve

obbery?" I

thought the opportunity

at two similar accidents should have occurred t

s apart within less than three hours of one another. I will swear that no motor yet built would cover those roads inside three hours. I know them. No

s the table and removed the glass wh

you have, I believe, undertaken t

g, "it's only the liquors supplied at countr

h a smile and refilled his own fro

this bottle. It is endowed with certain qualities which particularly recommend themselves to me. It would be a sad thing if an accident were to

estination of the port, for while we continued to discuss every point in the story, he sipped and sippe

t do you say to a m

tted me on the back, "I sleep

by the sententiousness of my friend's phrasing, the

olumbus. Any one might discover a new continent, but in these days it needs exceptional qualit

nter's motor was waiting at the door in charge of a ma