and the car shot
down Broadway. "You can look back now, Miss," suggested Dan. Willa
turned. The motor-cycle had been halted in mid-pursuit, its rider
gesticulating in futile rage and vexation while the obdurant bluecoat
held him fast.

"How did you do it, Dan?" Willa asked.

"Delehanty's death on motor-cyclists since one ran him down last
summer. I told him this feller was a chauffeur in the same garage as
me, and trailing me now on a bet, but that the license on his machine
was phony. We'll be there and back before he gets through explaining
at the station-house."

Once across the bridge, Dan led the big car far out to a sparsely
built-up section of Flatbush and there at last his object was achieved.
A loud report echoed behind them and glancing over her shoulder Willa
saw the big car swerve and come to an abrupt halt in the ditch.

"Tire burst!" she announced. "Luck is with us, Dan!"

"It was, in the shape of some broken glass!" Her ally retorted
grinning. "I said a prayer myself as we went over it. The way is
clear now!"

Second Place was a dull row of somber brick dwellings with prim muslin
curtains behind each window pane, and an air of bearing its indubitable
respectability self-consciously.

The car halted before a house midway the block, and Willa was up the
steps in a flash and pealing the bell.

A swarthy middle-aged woman, with a white apron over her ample silk
gown, presented herself and stammeringly bade the girl welcome.

"The Senora Reyes and Jose? I must see them, Senora Rodriquez. I have
come from your daughter."

"She did not tell you, then, Senorita?" The woman raised her fat hands
in expostulation. "Heaven is my witness, it was not my fault! I did
not think to watch her, she did not even glance toward the window!
Could I know what she meditated?"

"What is it?" Willa seized the woman's arm and shook it convulsively.
"What has happened to Senora Reyes? Tell me!"

All at once a frail, crooked little form catapulted itself down the
stairway and fell, sobbing, at the girl's feet.

"Senorita! Senorita Billie! The grandmama has vanished! She rose and
went from the house in the dawn, when all were sleeping! She is gone!"

CHAPTER XVI

THE POOL OF THE LOST SOULS

Willa went home at last in a daze of consternation which took no note
of the heightened storm. The unexpected catastrophe was a death-blow
to her long-cherished plan, but even that faded for the momen