red legs. She stood like something
apart from them, small and queenly. Her voice was strained and hurt.

"I cannot say more. You have helped me in the quest of the flaming
diamond and you will be rewarded. Now, I must go before I cause your
death also."

Jim felt helpless--lost. She had aroused emotions in his heart that
had been long buried. Now with stark death and worse threatening her,
Sylvia Fanton proposed to leave him forever. He was at her side, his
hand clasping the warm wrist tightly.

"Let me help," he begged. "I'm not much on speeches but you're in
trouble. I can believe what I have seen. If there is a way of saving
you torture, I'm going to do it."

Sylvia stared up at him, tears misting her dark eyes. For a moment he
was sure she would throw herself into his arms.

"You're very nice," she said softly. "I'd be grateful forever if you
_could_ help, but you can't. I know my task and I have others with me
who know theirs. It will be best if we never meet again."

Drake's jaw grew stubborn.

"And if I refuse to let you leave?"

The girl's eyes were cold and she twisted the cape around her slim
body tightly, wearing it like a queen's robe. Words tumbled from her
lips swiftly.

"There is nothing you can do to prevent it."

A worried grin spread over Jim Drake's face.

"If you insist on going," he said, "there isn't much else to say."

"Don't think I'm not grateful to both of you." This time her smile was
for Puffy and his chest swelled a good three inches under its
influence. "If you'll promise not to follow me tonight, I'll return
here in the morning. If you insist on getting yourselves in trouble on
my account there isn't a thing I can do about it without appearing
ungrateful."

"That's more like it," Jim said cheerfully. "Now, about your clothes.
You can't wear that fur without something under it, although the
effect is appealing."

"And revealing," Puffy added.

She blushed.

"Could--could you find something for me. Some of your clothing?"

Puffy Adams chuckled. "With those shoulders Cinderella's got, you'll
look like an ex-prizefighter," he warned.

* * * * *

Drake started a search in the closet. Ten minutes later Sylvia Fanton
made an appealing picture in tan slacks, light jersey sweater and a
pair of sport shoes Jim had discarded years ago but had forgotten to
throw away. She stood at the door holding the fox fur close to her
breast. Then smiling br