Edgar Wallace

“ Pinlow turned on his rival with a scream of rage.
“You dog!” he raised his pistol.
“Don’t shoot, for Heaven’s sake don’t shoot, m’lord,” said the man grasping his arm. “If they hear the shot they’ll be on us before we can get away; they’re only walking and they’re half a mile away.”
Pinlow hesitated.
His mouth was twisted with fury and hate. Again he raised the pistol, but now Smith was at his side, and they half dragged, half led him back to the road.
Brian heard the engines of the first car start and the whirr of its wheels, then the second engine throttled. ”

“ If you agree, and will pledge me your word you will not attempt to trap me, come to the end of the Petworth Road leading to Chichester. You will see a car waiting. Tell your man to follow that. If you make any attempt to betray me, I shall have no hesitation in killing her. Go to the nearest post office, I will call you by telephone at one o’clock.”
“As I thought,” said Brian.
He handed the letter to Mr Callander.
“What will you do?” asked the old man.
“Go to the post-office and wait—the police must not know of this; we can afford to take no risks.” ”

“ He found another telegram which had recently arrived.
“IS GLADYS WITH YOU?—CALLANDER.”
In five minutes his car was at the door, and the two men were speeding toward Sevenoaks.
“If Pinlow is in this—” said Brian, between his teeth. Then he recognized the absurdity of the unuttered threat. The man was already a fugitive from justice—a murderer. It was hopeless.
He flung himself from the car before it had stopped at the door of the house.
One glance at Mr Callander’s face told him all he feared to know.
“She has not returned,” said the old man; “here is the telegram.” ”