anded.

"Yes. The best and truest any girl ever had.... Dad, you know mother
told you I had changed lately. I have. And it's through Daren."

"Where'd you see him?"

"He has been coming out to the house in the afternoons."

"Well, I'm damned," muttered the Chief, and wheeled away. Sight of his
gaping patrolman seemed to galvanize him into further realization of
the situation. "Smith, beat it out and draw the other men round in
front. Give me time enough to get Bessy out. Send hurry call for
ambulance.... And Smith, keep your mouth shut. I'll make it all right.
If Mrs. Bell hears of this my life will be a hell on earth."

"Mum's the word, Chief. I'm a married man myself," he replied, and
hurried out.

Lane was watching Bessy. What a wonderful girl! Modern tendencies
might have corrupted the girls of the day, but for sheer nerve, wit
and courage they were immeasurably superior to those of former
generations. Bessy faced her father calmly, lied magnificently, gazed
down at the ghastly, bloody faces with scarcely a shudder, and gave
Lane a smile from her purple eyes, as if to cheer him, to assure him
she could save the situation. It struck Lane that Chief Bell looked as
if he might be following a similar line of thought.

"Bessy, put on your hat," ordered Bell. "And here ... tuck that veil
around. There, now you beat it for home. Lane, go with her to the
stairs. Take a good look in the street. Bessy, go home the back way.
And Lane, you hurry back."

Lane followed Bessy out and caught up with her in the hall. She
clasped his arm.

"Some adventure, I'll say!" she burst out, in breathless whisper. "It
was great until I recognized your voice. Then all inside me went
flooey."

"Bessy, you're the finest little girl in the world," returned Lane,
stirred to emotion.

"Here, Daren, cut that. You didn't raise me on soft soap and mush. If
you get to praising me I'll fall so far I'll never light.... Now,
Dare, go back and fool Dad. You must save the girls. It doesn't matter
about me. He's my Dad."

"I'll do my best," replied Lane.

They reached the landing of the outside stairway. Peering down, Lane
did not see any one.

"I guess the coast is clear. Now, beat it, Bessy."

She lifted the white veil and raised her face. In the dim gray light
Lane saw it as never before.

"Kiss me, Daren," she whispered.

Lane had never kissed her. For an instant he was confused.

"Why--little girl!" he exclaimed.

"Hurry!" she