he turned upon the startled butler.

"Well, my man. Go out and tell the chauffeur to leave for the country at
once, as Mr. Grimsby already ordered him to do."

"My Gawd, sir!" exclaimed the servant, paling perceptibly. "What's come
over you, sir?--Oh, I beg pardon, sir, you're the other gentleman. You
certainly fooled me, sir--You're bloody brave, sir, to do all this for
the master. Are we in any danger?"

"Not a bit--whatever happens will be outside the house. Just keep up the
secret, as you value your master's life. Go, and tell the man. I must
kill time here in the library, reading until four o'clock."

Shirley threw aside the greatcoat, and walked to the window of the small
reception room which faced the street, to draw aside the curtains and
watch the chauffeur, as he entered the machine to speed away. A black
automobile slowly passed the house, bearing two men on the driver's
seat. From under the visors of their black caps they scrutinized the
building, to hastily look away as they observed the face at the window.

Shirley made a note of the number of the machine. He could have sworn
that this was the same car which had passed him that morning at dawn
when the grip was snatched from his hand.

He returned to the library, where he lost himself in the rare old
volumes of Grimsby's life collection: the criminologist was a booklover
and the hours drifted by as in a happy playtime, until the butler came
to tell him the time.

"Great Scott! I must hurry. Call a taxi, for me. I will go to Holloway's
office to learn where Miss Marigold has been ensconced."

He sat in the machine before the office building, as he sent the
chauffeur up to Dick's office, to inquire for a message to "Mr.
Grimsby." A note was brought down, informing him that the girl awaited
him in the Hotel California, a few blocks above. The machine started off
once more, and Shirley laughed at the droll situation in which he found
himself.

"I wonder who Helene Marigold can be? I wonder what Holloway meant
precisely when he predicted that I would meet my match. I am not seeking
one kind--and blue eyes, surrounded by red-gold hair and peaches and
cream will not shake my determination."

But the best laid determinations of bachelor hearts gang aft agley!

Down at the Hotel California, famous for its rare collection of
attractive feminine guests and the manifold breach-of-promise suits
which had emanated from the palm bedecked entrance, Helene Mar