eyes on the twin ribbons of steel which slid along under the
headlight. The road made a sharp turn and emerged from the thick wood
through which it had been traveling. Hardly had the lights shot along
the track in the new direction than Dr. Bird closed the throttle and
applied the brakes rapidly. A heavy barricade of logs was piled across
the track.

* * * * *

The doctor pressed home on the brake lever until the steel shoes
screamed in protest, but no brakes could bring the heavy scooter to a
stop as swiftly as was needful to avoid a crash. It was still
traveling at a good rate of speed when it rammed into the barricade
and overturned.

Dr. Bird was thrown clear of the wrecked scooter. He landed on soft
mud beside the track. As he strove to rise, the beam of a flashlight
struck him in the eyes and a guttural, sneering voice spoke through
the darkness.

"Don't move, Dr. Bird. It will be useless and will only lead to your
early death, a thing I should regret."

"Saranoff!" cried Dr. Bird.

"I am flattered, Doctor, that you know my voice. Yes, it is I, Ivan
Saranoff, the man whom you have so often foiled. You drove me from
America and tried to bar the road against my return, but I only
laughed at your efforts. I returned here only for one purpose, to
capture you and to compass your death."

Dr. Bird rose to his feet and laughed lightly.

"You've got me, Saranoff," he said, "but the game isn't played out
yet. I represent an organization which won't end with my death, you
know."

A series of expletives in guttural Russian answered him. In response
to a command from their leader, two men came forward and searched the
doctor quickly and expertly, removing the automatic pistol which he
carried under his left armpit.

"As for your organization, as you call it--_pouf!_" said the Russian
scornfully. "Carnes, a brainless fool who does only as you tell him, a
few half-wits in the Bureau of Standards, some of them already in my
pay, and one renegade girl. She shall learn what it means to betray
the Soviets and their leader."

"You'll have to catch her first," replied Dr. Bird, a sardonic grin on
his face.

"I have but to snap my fingers and she will come whining back, licking
my hand and imploring mercy," boasted the Russian. "Bring him along!"

* * * * *

TWO men approached and Seized the doctor by his arms. Dr. Bird shook
them off contemptuously.