Dashing out into the roadway, Lanyard launched himself at the narrow
platform of the unwieldy vehicle and, in spite of a yell of warning from
the guard, landed safely on the step and turned to repel boarders.
But his manoeuvre had been executed too swiftly and unexpectedly. The group
before Au Printemps huddled together in ludicrous inaction, as if stunned.
Then one raged through it, plying vicious elbows. As he paused against the
light Lanyard identified unmistakably the silhouette of Ekstrom.
So that one had, after all, escaped the net of his own treachery!
The 'bus guard was shaking Lanyard's arm with an ungentle hand.
"Here, now, you got no business boardin' a Special."
From his pocket Lanyard whipped the first bank-note his fingers
encountered.
"Divide that with the chauffeur," he said crisply--"tell him to drive like
the devil. It's life or death with me!"
The protruding eyeballs of the guard bore witness to the magnitude of the
bribe.
"You're on!" he breathed hoarsely, and ran forward through the body of the
conveyance to advise the driver.
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