whispered, imperiously.

Some instinct beyond Lane's ken prompted him to do what she asked.

"Good-bye, my little Princess," he whispered. "Don't ever forget me."

"Never, Daren. Good-bye." She slipped down the stairway and in a
moment more vanished in the gray gloom of the misty night.

Only then did Lane understand what she, with her woman's intuition,
had divined--that they would never be together again. The realization
gave him a pang. Bessy was his only victory.

Slowly Lane made his way back to the club-rooms. He had begun to
weaken under the strain and felt the approach of something akin to
collapse. When he reached the large room he found Swann half conscious
and Thesel showing signs of coming to.

"Lane, come here," said the Chief, drawing Lane away from the writhing
forms on the floor. "You're under arrest."

"Yes, sir. What's the charge?"

"Let's see. That's the puzzler," replied the Chief, scratching his
head. "Suppose we say gambling and fighting."

"Fine!" granted Lane, with a smile.

"When the ambulance comes you get out of sight until we pack these
fellows out. I'll leave the door open--so if there's any reason you
want to come back--why--"

Chief Bell half averted his face, seemingly not embarrassed, but
rather pondering in thought. "Thanks, Chief. You understand me
perfectly," responded Lane. "I'll appear at police headquarters in
half an hour."

The officer laughed, and returning to the injured men he knelt beside
them. Swann sat up moaning. Blood had blinded his sight. He did not
see Lane pass. Sounds of an ambulance bell had caught Lane's quick
ear. Finding the washroom, he went in and, locking the door, leaned
there to wait. In a very few moments the injured Swann and Thesel had
been carried out. Lane waited five minutes after the sound of wheels
had died away. Then he hurried out and opened the door of the closet.

Lorna almost fell over him in her eagerness. If she had been
frightened, she had recovered. Gail staggered out, pale and sick
looking.

"Oh, Daren, can you get us out?" whispered Lorna, breathlessly.

"Hurry, and don't talk," replied Lane.

He led them out into the hall and down to the stairway where he had
taken Bessy. As before, all appeared quiet below.

"I guess it's safe.... Girls, let this be a lesson to you."

"Never any more for mine," whimpered Gail.

But Lorna was of more tempered metal.

"Believe me, Daren, I'm glad you knocked the lamps out of those