The Chase of the Golden Plate

crouched down in the seat, dragging the Girl with him; at the second, he winced a little and clenched his teeth tightly. The car's headlights cut a da

ded abruptly. "You'll make

hot at us!" she pr

ned his eyes to the smooth road again, there

impression myself,"

have killed us!"

bsurd idea when they shot," replied the Burglar. "Gue

did!" replied the

ck, and from time to time he let out a new notch in the speed-regulator. Already the pace was terrific, and the Gir

go so awfully fast?"

clung frantically to a fast-failing strand of ruddy hair. She clutched at the hat and saved

ered, "I can't

ed-regulator and the car fairly leaped with suddenly increased impetus. The regula

he Girl again. "Can't y

directed the

er from a few hundred yards away as another car swooped along in p

asing us, a

't finish the sentence. There was a sinister note in his voice, but the Girl was still looking back and did not heed it.

, I say," he c

mustn't catch u

y wo

they s

n't," he

be perfect

than

feeling of security came to her. Then the car swept around a bend in the road,

dled an auto so well,

on't know I do," he replied.

ank goo

e machine became less pronounced. After a moment it began to slow

topping!" sh

now

deal of jolting, the car stopped. He leaped out and ran around behind. As the Gi

t?" she as

nswered. "They can see it, and i

road, then came around to the side to climb i

me your hand,

ptible effort. The car shivered, then started on again, slowly at first, but gathe

rt?" she as

l the car had regained its former speed a

e explained briefly, then: "I got t

, "and you hadn't said anything

hands again on his left arm. He shook them off

or the third time. "You'll make

n. As before, the Burglar looked back from time to time, but the lights did no

umbly. "I didn't mean to speak

uence," she replied coldl

ou," he

you to stop the car and let me

a dog barked lonesomely beside the road. The streaming lights of their car revealed a tangle of crossroads just ahead, offering

you?" asked the Gi

's a sort of numbness. I'm af

o back to the villa

in a tone which she did not understand.

mlessly through a wood, and the Burglar slowed down to turn into it. Once in the shelter of the ove

it here,"

m. The reflected light from the auto showed her dimly that he was trying to ris

tty bad," he said we

d to her lap and pressed her lips

, and tears fell upon th