uddenly past and ahead, and she saw its tail lights moving
away with a pang of hopelessness. Then, before she realised what had
happened, the big car ahead slowed and swung sideways, blocking the
road, and the cab came to a jerky stop that flung her against the
window. She saw two figures in the dim light of the taxi's head lamps,
heard somebody speak, and the door was jerked open.

"Will you step out, Miss Beale," said a pleasant voice, and though her
legs seemed queerly weak, she obliged. The second man was standing by
the side of the driver. He wore a long raincoat, the collar of which was
turned up to the tip of his nose.

"You may go back to your friends and tell them that Miss Beale is in
good hands," he was saying. "You may also burn a candle or two before
your favourite saint, in thanksgiving that you are alive."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said the driver sulkily. "I'm
taking this young lady to her office."

"Since when has the _Daily Megaphone_ been published in the ghastly
suburbs?" asked the other politely.

He saw the girl, and raised his hat.

"Come along, Miss Beale," he said. "I promise you a more comfortable
ride--even if I cannot guarantee that the end will be less startling."

Chapter III

The man who had opened the door was a short, stoutly built person of
middle age. He took the girl's arm gently, and without questioning she
accompanied him to the car ahead, the man in the raincoat following. No
word was spoken, and Lydia was too bewildered to ask questions until the
car was on its way. Then the younger man chuckled.

"Clever, Rennett!" he said. "I tell you, those people are super-humanly
brilliant!"

"I'm not a great admirer of villainy," said the other gruffly, and the
younger man, who was sitting opposite the girl, laughed.

"You must take a detached interest, my dear chap. Personally, I admire
them. I admit they gave me a fright when I realised that Miss Beale had
not called the cab, but that it had been carefully planted for her, but
still I can admire them."

"What does it mean?" asked the puzzled girl. "I'm so confused--where are
we going now? To the office?"

"I fear you will not get to the office to-night," said the young man
calmly, "and it is impossible to explain to you just why you were
abducted."

"Abducted?" said the girl incredulously. "Do you mean to say that
man----"

"He was carrying you into the country," said the other calmly. "He would