cally. "I didn't help him a bit; he won the race on his
own. Tell me all about it."

Captain Morby, nothing loath, gave a good description of the race.
Alan listened attentively, as though it were the first he had heard of
it.

"It was a race to get there in time," said Alan, and described
hurriedly how he came from France and motored to the course. He stood
up, looked at himself in the glass, and said:

"I'm a nice object. I want cleaning up. I'm smothered in dirt and
dust. What time is it?"

"Half-past six."

"Then we'll scrub before they're up. How did I get here?"

Harry told him and added:

"Miss Berkeley left me on guard for the night. I believe she wanted to
remain but thought it better not."

"Come along," said Alan. "I'm for a tub; I feel a heap better now,
it's good to be home again after all I've gone through."

"You'll have to tell us about your adventures," said Harry.

"It's a long story; by Jove, old fellow, I wonder I'm alive!" said Alan.

Eve Berkeley was down in good time, anxious to learn how Alan was. She
found the door open, looked in, there was nobody in the room. She rang
the bell.

"Have you seen Captain Chesney?" she asked.

Johnson smiled.

"He's in the bathroom," he said.

"You have seen him?"

"I met him on the stairs."

"What did he say?"

"'How are you, Johnson? I'm going down for a tub. It will take some
time to get clean, but I'll try and be down for breakfast. I'm
hungry.'"

"That was all?"

"Yes."

"Did he look ill?"

"No, a bit tired. He's a wonderful man."

"He is, Johnson; you are quite right, a very wonderful man," said Eve
with a bright smile.

When Alan came down he found her in the morning-room. He held out his
arms.

"Come to me, Eve, come! I want you badly--I love you so. I thought
once I should never see you again and it nearly killed me. I dreaded
the idea of never seeing you more than the danger or the bullets."

She came; he took her to him and kissed her passionately. Johnson
discreetly closed the door, he was an admirable servant. They were
alone for an hour, a blessed time, more united than they had been,
their hearts beating in unison; they were one.

Hurriedly he gave her a brief outline of his adventures. She listened
breathlessly. He was indeed a hero, a brave man, and he was hers; her
happiness was almost too much, she simply sighed and nestled to him.
He punctuated his tale with kisses. He ended by sayi