And Cordie, in spite of her predicament, regardless of impending arrest, was actually getting a thrill out of it. For one thing, there were now no pedestrians to be run down. The park was deserted. For another thing, ahead of Dick lay a clear stretch of turf which she hoped would satisfy his lust for speed.
Finding herself in a more cheerful frame of mind, Cordie took to studying her pursuers. That they were of different ages she guessed more by the way they rode than by a clear view of their faces; Dick had left them too far behind for that. The foremost rider was a man of thirty-five or so, a stern minion of the law, and he was plainly angry. It had been he who had informed her on State Street that she was arrested. He had an unusually long nose—she remembered that. He rode a poor mount very badly indeed. The punishment he was getting, as he jounced up and down in the saddle, he would doubtless attempt to pass on to her and to Dick. She ardently wished that he might never catch up, but realized at the same time that it could not well be avoided. The race must come to a close.
The other policemen were different. One was heavy and well past middle age; the other young, perhaps no older than Patrick O’Hara. They rode with the easy grace of an aged and a young cowboy. She had seen some like that in the movies not so long ago. She fancied she saw a smile on the younger man’s face. Perhaps he was enjoying the race. She sincerely hoped he might be, and the older man, too. As for the one of the long nose—not a chance.
All things have an end. Dick’s race did. Having come close to an iron fence, beyond which towered a brick structure, he appeared to assume that he had reached the goal. Dropping to a slow trot, he circled gracefully to the right, and as he came to a standstill he threw his head high as much as to say:
“We won, didn’t we; and by a handsome margin!”
“Yes, you old goose,” the girl breathed. “And now, instead of a blue ribbon for you and a purse for me, we get an invite to some dirty old police court.”
There was no time for further thought. The foremost policeman, he of the long nose, rode up and snatching at the reins, snarled:
“Suppose you call that smart, you—you flapper!”
Staring angrily at the girl, he gave Dick’s rein such a yank as threw the magnificent horse on his haunches.
Instantly Cordie’s eyes flashed fire. They might take her to jail and welcome; but abuse Dick he might not!