ere smoking the captive's best cigars.

"It's mighty nice of you, Mr. Barnes, to let us use your autermobile,"
said Anderson, benignly puffing away as they bowled off through the
dust. "It would 'a' been a long walk. I'll speak a good word fer you fer
this."

"Don't mention it, old chap. I rather enjoy it. It's been uncommonly
dull up here. I did not get away as soon as I expected, you see. So I am
charged with being Rosalie's father, eh? And deserting her? And
kidnaping her? By jove, I ought to be hung for all this!"

"'Tain't nothin' to laugh at, my friend. You ought to be ashamed of
yourself. I was onto you the day you stopped me in the road an' ast
about her. What a fool you was. Reg'lar dead give-away."

"See here, Mr. Crow, I don't like to upset your hopes and calculations,"
said Barnes soberly. "I did that once before, you remember. That was
years ago. You were wrong then, and you are wrong now. Shall I tell you
why I am interested in this pretty waif of yours?"

"It ain't necessary," protested the marshal.

"I'll tell you just the same. My son met her in New York while he was at
school. He heard her story from mutual friends and repeated it to me. I
was naturally interested, and questioned you. He said she was very
pretty. That is the whole story, my dear sir."

"That's all very purty, but how about the B in your hat?"

"I don't understand. Oh, you mean the political bee?"

"Politics, your granny! I mean the 'nitial that Briggs saw. No; hold on!
Don't answer. Don't say anything that'll incriminate yourself."

"I never had an initial in my hat, and I don't know Briggs. Mr. Crow,
you are as crazy as a loon." He prepared to bring the machine to a
standstill. "I'm going home. You can ride back with me or get out and
walk on, just as you please."

"Hold on! Don't do that! I'll see that you're paid fer the use of the
machine. Besides, consarn ye, you're my prisoner." This was too much for
Barnes. He laughed long and loud, and he did not turn back.

Just beyond the ferry they turned aside to permit a carriage to pass. A
boy on the box with the driver shouted frantically after them, and
Anderson tried to stop the machine himself.

"Stop her!" he cried; "that's Roscoe, my boy. Hold on! Who's that with
him? Why, by cracky, it's Miss Banks! Gee whiz, has she come back here
to teach again? Whoa! Turn her around, Mr. Barnes. They are motionin'
fer us to come back. 'Pears to be important, too."

Barnes obligin