nd disheveled, followed by Reed and
his party, emerged hurriedly into the street.

"What you looking for?" asked the officer, planting himself in front
of Harris, and becoming vaguely apprehensive.

"Girl!" sputtered Harris, his eyes protruding and his long arms pawing
the air. "Girl--so high--funny dress--big straw hat! Seen her?"

The officer gasped. "She's gone! Aunt took her just now in an auto!"

"Aunt!" yelled Harris. "She's got no aunt! She's from the jungle!"

For a moment they all stood silent, big-eyed and gaping.

"Look here, Mr. Officer," said Reed, interposing. "My name's Reed. The
girl came up from South America with me. Describe the woman--"

"Reed!" cried the policeman excitedly, his eyes lighting. "That's it!
Said she was your aunt!"

"Lord Harry! You great, blundering boob!" cried the distracted Harris,
menacing the confused officer. "And you let her nab the kid?"

Night had fallen, and a curious crowd was gathering around the
excited, noisy group. Reed quickly signaled a taxicab and hustled the
bewildered officer into it. "You, Harris, get the women folks home,
and wait for me! I'll go to central with this officer and report the
case!"

"Not I!" exclaimed Harris wildly. "I'm going to visit every dance hall
and dive in this bloomin' town before I go home! I'm going to find
that girl! And you, you blithering idiot," shaking a fist at the
officer, "you're going to lose your star for this!"

Meantime, the car, in which Carmen lay deep in the soft cushions, sped
through the dusk like a fell spirit. A confused jumble of shadows flew
past, and strange, unfamiliar noises rose from the animated streets.
The lights shimmered on the moist glass. It was confusing. The girl
ceased trying to read any meaning in it. It all fused into a blur; and
she closed her eyes and gave herself up to the novel sensations
stimulated by her first ride in a carriage propelled--she knew not
how.

At length came a creaking, a soft, skidding motion, and the big car
rolled up against a curb and stopped.

"We are home now," said the woman softly, as she descended and again
took Carmen's hand. They hurriedly mounted the white stone steps of a
tall, gloomy building and entered a door that seemed to open
noiselessly at their approach. A glare of light burst upon the
blinking eyes of the girl. A negro woman softly closed the door after
them. With a wondering glance, Carmen looked about her. In the room at
her right she caugh