uld not roll the car to the stand and simply abandon it
there, for anyone so inclined to steal; he objected to reporting it
"found" in this peculiar manner at any police headquarters, for he
could not be sure it had been stolen, and he himself might be suspected.

Having hired the car in crowded Times Square, near his Forty-fourth
Street rooms, he ran it up along Broadway with the thought of awaiting
the driver.

The traffic was congested with surface cars, heavy trucks, other
motors, and carriages. His whole attention was riveted on the task in
hand. Driving a car in the streets of New York ceases to be enjoyment,
very promptly. The clutch was in and out continuously. He crept here,
he speeded up to the limit for a space of a few city blocks, and crept
again.

Past busy Fourteenth Street and Union Square he proceeded, and on to
Twenty-third Street with Madison Square, green and inviting, lying to
his right. Pushed over into the Fifth Avenue traffic by the
regulations, he contemplated returning to the Broadway stream as soon
as possible, and was crawling along with his clutch barely rubbing,
when a hansom cab, containing a beautiful but pale young woman, slowly
passed. The occupant abruptly rose from her seat and scrutinized the
car in obvious excitement.

Garrison barely caught a glimpse of her face, busied as he was with the
driving. He continued on. Two minutes later he was halted by a jam of
carriages and the hansom returned at full speed. Once more the pale
young woman was leaning half-way out.

"Stop!" she cried at the astounded Garrison. "You've stolen that car!
I'll have you arrested! You've got to return it at once!"

Garrison almost smiled, the half-expected outcome had arrived so
promptly. He saw that half a dozen drivers of cabs and other vehicles
were looking on in wonder and amusement.

"Kindly drive into Twenty-sixth Street, out of this confusion," he
answered. "I shall be glad to halt there and answer all requirements."

He was so obviously a thorough gentleman, and his manner was so calm
and dignified, that the strange young lady almost felt abashed at the
charges she had made.

The jam was broken. Garrison ran the car to the quieter side street,
and the cab kept pace at his side.

Presently he halted, got down from the seat and came to the hansom,
lifting his hat. How thankful he was that no policeman had overheard
the young woman's cry, and followed, she might never suspect.