matter here? What you blocking traffic for? Don't you
know I can--"

"Oh! Am I in the way here? I shall move immediately, of course.
Thank you so much! It's really no trouble at all, and I'm tremendously
sorry if I have inconvenienced you or the general public any. I
believe you are really _glad_, down deep in your heart, when somebody
gives you an excuse to leave that horrid little square spot for a
minute. Don't you nearly go wild, having to--Bland! What are you
standing there holding up traffic for? Get in!"

Looking completely dazed and helpless, Bland got in.

"Now we're all ready, Mr. Policeman. Run along back and point the herd
again before all the nice little tame Fords get walked on. I hear one
squalling now. And thank you so much."

Mary V let in the clutch. The Bear Cat slid out across the street,
scattering pedestrians and jeopardizing wheels and fenders as it ducked
past them. The traffic cop stood still for a minute, rubbing his chin
vaguely and staring after Mary V. Then he went back to his post,
grinning and frowning--which gave him a strange, complex expression.

"Aw, say, Miss Selmer--"

"Will you be quiet? Haven't you done harm enough, for gracious sake?
Aren't you satisfied with getting me almost put in jail innocently? If
you had told me at once where Johnny is, I'd be miles away by now. But
no--you hold up traffic trying to deceive me, and I almost get pinched.
I should think you'd be ashamed. Where is Johnny? If you have done
anything to him, Bland Halliday, I'll--hang you!"

"I been telling yuh all I know about it. I don't know where he is, and
I don't know where the plane is. They're both of 'em gone, and that's
Gawd's truth, Miss Selmer. Last I seen of Johnny he was goin' in the
Alexandria. He said he was going to stop there. He registered all
right--I seen his name. He stayed all night, and he was gone the next
day when I went after him. And the plane's gone, I been out there, and
I can't find so much as a sign of it. And that was three weeks ago.
And you kin hang me till I'm dead, but I can't tell nothin' more.
Don't yuh spose I want to know where's he at?"

"Well--" Mary V crossed the path of a street car, leaving the motorman
shivering while he stood on the bell that clamored wildly. "Maybe you
are telling the truth--but I doubt it." They were across Figueroa
Street and speeding out toward Westlake. The Bear Cat was breaking the
speed law, and Mary