pidly. We found no more likelihood of obtaining admission from this
side than the other.

"I cannot arrest a man on the evidence of a few grains of tobacco dust,
and an empty phial," declared Forrest, savagely, as he shook the tightly
locked door. "Listen!" I said.

Borne on the wind came the throb of a motor. So still was the air that
when the sound first reached our ears it must have been a mile away. The
sound drew nearer and nearer, and while it was still a quarter of a mile
distant, I recognized the familiar noise of Mannering's car, a sound as
dissimilar to the hum of the Pirate car as it was possible to conceive.

"Forrest," I cried, turning to my companion, "we must be mad to think
that Mannering could play the part of the Motor Pirate on that old car
of his."

There was something so irresistibly ludicrous in the idea, that we both
indulged in a hearty fit of laughter, and with one accord we turned and
walked down the road.

"He may keep his fast car elsewhere," remarked the detective, when his
mirth had subsided.

"It would be difficult to bring the guilt home to him if we failed to
discover the car," I replied.

A few seconds later we met the man whom we had so lately suspected. I
felt a tinge of shame at the thought that, a few minutes previously, I
had been sneaking into his house in the hope that I should find evidence
to convict him of a crime. By this time dawn was sufficiently advanced
to allow of recognition, and as he came level with us Mannering pulled
up.

"Hullo, Sutgrove!" he shouted. "You're about betimes. Been on the same
job as myself?"

"What's that, Mr. Mannering?" asked Forrest

"Looking for an opportunity to pay back this little debt," was the light
answer, as the speaker tapped his shoulder gently.

"Any luck?" said Forrest, dryly.

"Not a scrap," was the ready reply. "You see I'm a bit handicapped with
this old car, for unless the fellow happens to take the same road as
myself, there's precious little chance of my picking him up. Still, if
you do not soon succeed in catching him, I think I shall have a good try
myself."

"I suppose by that you know who he is," I remarked, more in order to see
what he would say than in the hope of eliciting anything.

"Not the slightest idea on the subject," he responded promptly. "I am
merely hoping that in a few days I shall be in possession of a new motor
from which even the Pirate will be unable to escape."

I made a gesture of surpr