slowly forward, picked up speed as if glad to be off on a journey, and
began singing its steady, rhythmic song of the road.

"I've got twenty-eight miles to run to get you across the state line,"
said the superintendent, settling into his seat and handling the wheel
like a veteran driver. "In summer I could do it in just twenty-eight
minutes with this car, but it'll take a little longer now. Once across
the line you can twiddle your thumb up against your nose at anything
Granger can do, and go back to New York, or any other place you choose,
to make out your written report for the old man. Either give it to the
Martin people, or forward it to the works in my care, because I can't
give you the old man's address. He jumps here and there like a kangaroo
when he goes on one of his scouting trips. We never know where he is.
Some car, this, eh?"

Jim's teeth rattled as he shouted his agreement; but, notwithstanding
his desire to get out of the state, he would have preferred to take a
little more time for the journey. The frost-laden wind threatened to
tear him to pieces; behind the goggles with which he had been provided
his eyes streamed rivulets of tears, and he wondered how many
somersaults the car would turn if it happened to hit any solid obstacle.
The coolness of Holmes, who appeared to be lolling back in his seat with
an air of calm indifference to wind, weather, and speed, exasperated
him, but he dared not show the white feather and beg for mercy, so shut
his teeth, clenched his hands and tried to keep from holding his breath.

Their pace did not slacken in the least when they came to two white
posts and he heard the superintendent's shout, "Across, all right! Two
miles more to town and I think we'll get to the railway station in time
for you to catch the eastbound flyer. Looked up the time-table in the
office before we started. Take chances on speed laws----" and then
fragmentary words of comment not always audible.

They whizzed through the outskirts of a town, skidded a corner, saw a
railway station from behind which a plume of smoke and steam was
ascending, and came to an abrupt halt by a platform. Jim had no time to
purchase a ticket but made a flying leap with his suitcase and caught
the train after it was in motion. He looked back and waved his hand at
the superintendent, who was already turning the roadster for its home
journey, and it seemed to Mr. James Gollop that this was the first time
in several hour