d: "It's certainly better than going alone. But what will
you do when you get there?"

"I'll go to the railroad station and sit up," Marie Louise announced.
"I'm no end sorry to have been such a nuisance."

"Nuisance!" he protested, and left his intonation to convey all the
compliments he dared not utter.

The cab dived into another woods and ran clattering down a roving
hill road. Up the opposite steep it went with a weary gait. It crawled
to the top with turtle-like labor. Davidge knew the symptoms, and he
frowned in the shadow, yet smiled a little.

The car went banging down, held by a squealing brake. The light grew
faint, and in the glimmer there was a close shave at the edge of a
hazardous bridge over a deep, deep ravine. The cab rolled forward on
the rough planks under its impetus, but it picked up no speed.
Half-way across, it stopped.

"Whatever is the matter?" Marie Louise exclaimed.

Davidge leaned out and called to the driver, "What's the matter now?"
though he knew full well.

"Gas is gone, I reckon," the fellow snarled, as he got down. After a
moment's examination he confirmed his diagnosis. "Yep, gas is all
gone. I been on the go too long on this one call."

"In Heaven's name, where can you get some more gasolene?" said Marie
Louise.

"Nearest garodge is at Rosslyn, I reckon, lady."

"How far is that?"

"I'd hate to say, lady. Three, fo' mahls, most lahkly, and prob'ly
closed naow."

"Go wake it up at once."

"No thanky, lady. I got mahty po' feet for them hills."

"What do you propose to do?"

"Ain't nothin' tew dew but wait fo' somebody to come along."

"When will that be?"

"Along todes mawnin' they ought to be somebody along, milkman or
somethin'."

"Cheerful!" said Marie Louise.

"Batt'ries kind o' sick, tew, looks lahk. I was engaged by the houah,
remember," the driver reminded them as he clambered back to his place,
put his feet up on the dashboard and let his head roll into a position
of ease.

The dimming lights waned and did not wax. By and by they went where
lights go when they go out. There was no light now except the moonset,
shimmering mistily across the tree-tops of the rotunda of the forest,
just enough to emphasize the black of the well they were in.

CHAPTER III

How would she take it?

That was what interested Davidge most. What was she really like? And
what would she do with this intractable situation? What would the
situation do with her? For s