she heard?_ Insistently the question repeated itself
in her mind. She turned dizzily, and went back for the coat. As she did
so she heard Burke's voice.

"Why--hel-lo!"

Even in that moment she observed its modulation. It had begun on a note
of cheery surprise and ended on one of sharp concern. Turning, she saw
Laurie.

He had nodded to Burke, and was obviously trying to speak naturally.

"All ready?" he asked.

The remark was addressed to them both, but he looked at neither. There
was an instant of utter silence during which they took him in, Burke
with insistent, goggling eyes, Doris with one quick glance,
soul-searching and terror-filled. Burke spoke first.

"What you been doin' to yerself?" he gasped.

The question was inevitable. Laurie was hatless and disheveled. His coat
was torn, and across one pallid cheek ran a deep cut, freshly bleeding.

"Fell," he said, tersely.

He was breathing hard, as if he had been running. He had not yet looked
at Doris, but now he abruptly swung into the little office and emerged,
bringing her coat. Without a word, he held it for her. In equal silence,
she slipped into it. He retrieved the cap from the pile of discarded
garments still lying on the office floor, put it on, and indicated the
waiting car.

"Get in," he commanded.

She obeyed and he followed her, taking his place at the wheel.

"You're hurt," she almost whispered. "Shall I drive?"

[Illustration: "What you been doin' to yerself?" he gasped]

"No--Burke!"

The word was like a pistol shot.

"Y-yessir!" Burke was stammering. In his excitement he was hardly
conscious that another bill had found its way into his hand, but his
hand had automatically reached for and closed on it.

"Keep your mouth shut."

"Y-yessir."

"Keep it shut till to-morrow morning. You haven't seen anything or
anybody at all to-day. Understand?"

"Y-yessir."

"After to-night you can talk about me all you like. But you're to forget
absolutely that you ever saw the lady. Is that clear?"

"Y-yessir!"

"Thank you. Good-by."

He started the car and swung it out into the storm. As it went Burke saw
the girl catch the boy's arm and heard something that sounded partly
like a cry and partly like a sob.

"Laurie!"

"H-ush!"

The car was tearing through the storm and drifts at fifty miles an hour,
and this time it was headed down the road for New York.

Burke's eyes followed it, as far as he could see it, which was not far.