nting for his time. He had to pay over seven dollars of his ten
to cover the period for which he had the car out. Jimmie the Monk and
Baxter had returned from their unsuccessful chase. As they made their
inquiries from the starter and learned the care with which the coup
d'etat had been arranged they lapsed into angry, if admiring, profanity.

"Some guy, eh, Jimmie!" exclaimed Baxter. "But we'll find out who it
was, all right. Leave it to me!"

"Say, dat bloke was crazy--crazy like a fox, wasn't he?" answered
Jimmie. "He let Shepard do de deal, and den he steals de kitty! Dis
is what I calls cut-throat competition!"

CHAPTER VII

THE CLOSER BOND

Once in the second taxicab Burke's difficulties were not at an end.

"I want to get this poor young girl home without humiliating her or her
family, if I can," was his mental resolve. "But I can't quite plan it.
I wish I could take her to Dr. MacFarland, but his office is 'way
downtown from here."

When the car drew up before the door of Lorna's home, from which she
had departed in such blithe spirits, Bob's heart was thumping almost
guiltily. He felt in some ridiculous way as though he were almost
responsible for her plight himself. Perhaps he had done wrong to wait
so long. Yet, even his quick eyesight had failed to discover the
knockout drops or powder which the wily Shepard had slipped into that
disastrous glass of beer. Maybe his interference would have saved her
from this unconscious stupor, indeed, he felt morally certain that it
would; but Bob knew in his heart that the clever tricksters would have
turned the tables on him effectively, and undoubtedly in the end would
have won their point by eluding him and escaping with the girl. It was
better that their operations should be thwarted in a manner which would
prevent them from knowing how sharply they were watched. Bob knew that
these men were to be looked after in the future.

He cast aside his thoughts to substitute action.

"Here's your number, mister," said the chauffeur, who opened the door.
"Can I help you with the lady?"

"Thank you, no. What's the charge?"

The driver twisted the lamp around to show the meter, and Burke paid
him a good tip over the price of the ride.

"Shall I wait for you?" asked the driver.

"No; that's all. I'll walk to the subway as soon as my friend gets in.
Good night."

The chauffeur lingered a bit as Bob took the girl in his arms. The
officer under