tood, and whose radius was forty miles--OR FORTY YARDS! He forced
a laugh. It was just that, no more, no less--he was as likely to have
started on his ride from within a biscuit throw of where he now stood,
as to have started on it from miles away!

But--he aroused himself with a start--he was wasting time! It must be
very late, near morning, and he would have need for every moment that
was left between now and daylight. He turned, walked quickly to his
house, mounted the steps, and with his latch-key--they had at least
permitted him to retain the contents of his pockets when they had forced
him to change his clothes--opened the front door softly, and, stepping
inside, closed the door as silently as he had opened it.

He paused for an instant to listen. There was not a sound. The servants,
naturally, would have been in bed hours ago. Even old Jason--Jimmie Dale
smiled, half whimsically, half affectionately--whose paternal custom it
was to sit up for his Master Jim, who, as he was fond of saying, he had
dandled as a baby on his knee, had evidently given it up as a bad job
on this occasion and had turned in himself. Jason, however, had left the
light burning here in the big reception hall.

Jimmie Dale stepped to the switch and turned off the light; then stood
hesitant in the darkness. Was there anything to be gained by rousing
Jason now and telling him what he intended to do--to instruct him to
answer any inquiries by the statement that "Mr. Dale had gone away for
a trip"? He could trust Jason; Jason already knew much--more than one
of those mysterious letters of the Tocsin's had passed through Jason's
hands.

Jimmie Dale shook his head. No; he could communicate with Jason from
downtown in the morning. He had half expected to find Jason up, and,
in that case, would have taken the other, as far as necessary, into
his confidence; but it was not a matter that pressed for the moment. He
could get into touch with Jason at any time readily enough. Was there
anything else before he went? He would not be able to get back as easily
as he got out! Money! He shook his head again--a little grimly this
time. He had been caught once before as Larry the Bat without funds!
There was plenty of money now hidden in the Sanctuary, enough for any
emergency, enough to last him indefinitely.

He stepped forward along the hall, his tread noiseless on the rich,
heavy rug, passed into the rear of the house, descended the back stairs,
and rea