crashing crescendo; then it
disappeared in the dust of the distance.

But Miss Vale, when she once more resumed her journey, had not gone
much more than a mile when she came upon the same swarthy son of the
south and his vociferous machine. But the latter was now silent
enough; it leaned against a fence, and its rider knelt beside it, a
wrench in his hand, testing its parts carefully and intently.

The Maillard was less than a quarter of a mile away when Miss Vale
caught the rapid series of explosions once more. With a quick glance
ahead, she threw the lever forward and the car tore along at a
breathless rate. Fences ran by in a giddy staggering line; trees
seemed merged into one tangle of branches; the dust arose in solid
towers behind her. However, she held to this but a scant five minutes;
her breath was short when she decreased the power; the hands upon the
wheel shook a little, but her head was held erect, her face was still
purposefully set forward.

Above the decreasing hum of her car, came the swift, brave shocks of
the motor cycle. But, if there was a dread that fell to tightening at
her heart, she showed it little. The Maillard still bore swiftly on;
she did not once turn her head.

A little further on there came into view a post with a series of
white, pointing sign-boards, that indicated a cross-roads. When still
a hundred yards from this the car stopped once more; again the Italian
flew by; again he vanished, this time around a bend beyond the
cross-roads. But once hidden by the bend, he stopped and got down;
the smile again appeared upon his face, the brilliant teeth shone
good-naturedly.

"A simple little ruse," he said to himself. "And one that I've seen
used with effect more than once. Evidently Miss Vale has her wits
about her."

Leaning against his machine he waited and listened. From around the
bend came the low sound of the Maillard; nearer and nearer it came for
a time; then it began to recede. At this the Italian remounted; the
explosions of his motor were muffled as he went swiftly along upon the
way by which he had come. At the cross-roads he slowed up and examined
the ground. Deep in the dust was the broad impress of the tires,
showing the car to have taken the turn to the left. Then swiftly the
cycle turned into the same road and took up the trail once more.

Some three miles further on, the track veered back toward the highway
along a badly cut dirt road.

"Slow going for a heavy c