"Help! Police!" cried Craig, as some women screamed. His wish was
doubly answered, for Burke's police whistle was in his mouth and he
blew it shrilly. A traffic squad man rushed across from the middle of
the street.

"Hurry, I want to get my sister away!" ordered Baxter excitedly to the
door man. "You big boob, what's the matter with you?"

The crowd of people about him shut off the view of Burke's activities
fifteen feet away. Baxter was nervous and was doing his best to make a
quick exit with his victim.

"What's this?" gruffly exclaimed the big traffic policeman, as he
caught Craig's arm.

"The needle!" grunted Burke. "Here, I've got it from his pocket."

He drew forth a small hypodermic needle syringe from Craig's coat
pocket, and held it up.

"It's a frame-up!" squealed Craig.

"Take him quick. I want to save the girl!" exclaimed Burke, as he
rushed toward Baxter.

That young man was just pushing the girl into the taxicab when a
middle-aged woman rushed out from the store entrance.

"That's my daughter Helen! Helen, my child!"

At this there was terrific confusion in the crowd, and Burke saw Baxter
give the girl a rough shove away from the taxicab door. He slipped a
bill into the chauffeur's willing hand and muttered an order. The car
sprang forward on the instant.

"I'll get that fellow this time!" muttered Burke. "He hasn't seen me,
and I'll trail him."

He turned about and espied a big gray racing car drawn up at the curb.
A young man weighted down under a heavy load of goggles, fur and other
racing appurtenances sat in the car. Its engines were humming merrily.

"Say, you, follow that car for me," sung out Officer 4434, delighted at
his discovery. "The taxicab with the black body."

The driver of the racer snorted contemptuously.

"Do you know who _I_ am?"

Burke wasted no time, but jumped into the seat, for it was as opportune
as though placed there by Providence. Perhaps Providence has more to
do with some coincidences than the worldly wise are prone to confess.

"_I'm_ Officer 4434 of the Police Department, and you mind my orders."

"Well, I'm Reggie Van Nostrand," answered the young man, "and I take
orders from no man."

Burke knew this young millionaire by reputation. But he was nowise
daunted. He kept his eye on the distant taxicab, which had luckily
been halted at the second cross street by the delayed traffic.

"I'm going to put this pretty car of yours in the