he clerk,
speaking as respectfully as ever, "that one of the hind wheels has been
removed from your car."

Mlle. Nadiboff stared at the clerk in amazement.

"Who has dared do such a thing?" she demanded, angrily.

"I am sorry, but I do not know," answered the clerk.

"Then I suppose it would be impossible, even, for me to hire one of your
livery rigs?" she continued icily.

"You have guessed right, Mademoiselle."

"Oh, but this is insupportable!" cried the pretty Russian, turning away.

As she did so, she caught sight of Jack Benson for the first time.

"Oh, I would like just a word with you, my Captain," she called softly,
moving after the boy, who had started toward the door.

She overtook Jack, resting a gloved hand on his sleeve.

"Do not stop," she urged, softly. "I will keep on with you, out onto
the veranda."

In silence Jack stepped outside with her. Mr. Farnum had vanished for
the moment, so Benson was alone with his pretty companion.

"Now, tell me, my Captain," she begged, "why it is that I cannot get
either my own car, or any other conveyance, for a little drive?"

"I could only guess, Mlle. Nadiboff, and you can do that as well as
I," Jack replied, gravely.

"But I desire you should guess for me, my Captain. What do you say?"
she insisted, her eyes scanning his grave face.

"At the risk of seeming rude, Mademoiselle, I am not going to be prying
enough to make any guesses about your affairs," Captain Benson answered,
quickly.

He thought he had gotten out of the matter as cleverly as it could be
done.

"Some one is taking altogether too great an interest in my affairs, my
Captain. I trust you have no hand in it, for it is possible that
interference with my comfort will prove dangerous to the offenders.
Yet, pardon me, for I am sure that you, my Captain, would not cause
me any uneasiness. Let those who do beware!"

As she let go of his arm and turned to go inside, Mlle. Nadiboff's
smile was bright, almost friendly. Yet back of that smile, in her
expressive eyes, lurked a look that made the boy start.

It was a look that spoke of deadly, things, and Captain Jack Benson had
come quite to believe that Mlle. Nadiboff could be not only quite deadly
at need, but also equally reckless.

CHAPTER XXI

A FRENCH RAT IN THE CORNER

As Mr. Farnum came around a bend in the veranda Jack hurried to him,
handing over the letters. Then he related the little scene he had just
witnesse