arm. We can make quicker time that way."

The small plotter's eyes were dancing when she slipped her hand under
his arm. In a career which had not been entirely devoid of excitement,
Mrs. Honoria had rarely found men difficult. But this particular young
man was proving himself to be the easiest among many.

At the garage Blount asked for the family touring-car, more than
half-expecting to be told that his father had taken it. The garage man
nodded and laughed. "You can have it, but you came within an ace of
losing out," he said. "The senator was just here, and he was going to
take it, but he changed his mind when I told him the big roadster was
in."

Blount made no comment, and when the car was ready he asked his
companion where she would ride.

"In front, with you," was the quick reply; and when they were placed she
gave him his running orders. "Slip out of the city by the quietest
streets you can find and take the Quaretaro road," she directed, and he
obeyed in silence, holding the speed down until they had left the
capital behind them and were bowling along under the stars on the fine
boulevarded county road.

"Do we take it easy or the other way?" he asked, speaking for the first
time since they had left the town garage.

"You may drive as fast as you like until we come to the hills," he was
told; and with this permission Blount let the motor out and speedily put
the fifteen miles of the straightaway road to the rear.

"Is it Wartrace?" he inquired, when the touring-car was breasting the
first of the grades in the gulch-threading climb to the second mesa
level.

"No. When you come to the pine-tree, turn to the right up Shonoho
Canyon."

"We can't get anywhere on that road," he objected. "It's washed out and
posted. I tried to go up there the other day when I had Patricia out in
the little car."

"I think you will find it quite passable to-night," was all the answer
he got; and a little later, when they had turned out of the main road
and were ascending the small canyon, the prophecy came true. The brush
barricade had been thrown aside, and there were fresh wheel tracks in
the sand.

At sight of the wheel marks the senator's wife spoke again.

"You have been up here before?"

"Yes, once; in the middle of the summer."

"There is a small hotel at the head of the road."

"I know; but it is closed."

"It has been reopened--please throttle the motor so it won't make so
much noise--the hotel is occup