is was Laurie
again. He went on urgently. "If we're stopped or separated, do exactly
as I say. Don't lose an instant. Rush to my car. It's over there, among
the trees. See?--there at the right. It's turned toward the road." He
indicated the spot. "Get in, go to the left at the first turn, drive
full speed to a garage a quarter of a mile down the main road. No matter
what happens, don't stop till you reach it. Go into the garage, and wait
half an hour for me. If I'm not there then, drive on to New York and go
to this address." He gave her a penciled slip he had prepared. "Mrs.
Ordway is a good friend of mine. She'll take you in and look after you.
Will you do that?"

"Yes." The word was so low that he had to bend his head to catch it.
His voice softened still more.

"Don't worry. It will be all right. Only, some way, I can't believe that
Shaw is letting us off as easily as this."

She stumbled, but he caught her. For a moment he supported her, and in
that moment, under the sense of her nearness and dearness and
helplessness, the hardness of the past hour disappeared. He did not
understand her. Perhaps he would never understand her. But whatever she
was, she was all right.

Half leading, half carrying her, he got her to the car and into it. He
had actually raised one foot to follow her when something stirred in the
shadows near them, and the familiar, squat figure of Shaw stepped forth.

Though in his sudden appearance he had followed the dramatic instinct
that seemed so strong in him, he had wholly lost the effect of unleashed
fury he had worn in the afternoon. He was even smiling with an
affectation of good-humored tolerance. He had the air of a man who, with
the game in his hands, can afford to be patient and affable.

"Oh, come now," he said easily, "don't leave us quite so soon! Since
you've come back for another visit, we've decided to keep you a while.
You know, I warned you of that."

Laurie made a sign to Doris, which she instantly obeyed. Even before the
indolent voice had finished speaking, she was at the wheel and the car
had started. Shaw, springing forward with goggling eyes and dropped jaw,
found his way blocked by a man as new to him as he had been to Doris, a
Laurence Devon who all in an instant had taken on the black rage he
himself had dropped. In the hands of this stranger was a revolver which
neatly covered Shaw's plump chest. Before this apparition, Shaw backed
away precipitately.

"Stand e