of some of those newspaper fellows. I have been at the War Office," he
said, "so I ought to know of what they are capable."

"I can scarcely imagine that any newspaper would dare hoax its readers
to such an extent," remarked Winter.

"They are capable of anything--anything," replied the Colonel,
vigorously. "I have known them on more than one occasion to attack even
my department."

"That of course is scandalous," I replied warmly; "but here the
conditions are different. They are referring to people who are able to
reply if the facts are not as stated. In your case your mouth, of
course, was closed."

"Umph!" growled the Colonel.

"At the same time," said Winter, "it may very well have happened that
consciously or unconsciously the papers have been made the victims of a
practical joke. To-morrow is the first of April, remember. Or even apart
from the joke theory, the event happened after dinner, and Mr. Bradshaw
may have found it necessary to be prepared with an explanation of his
accident."

"But the robbery?" I objected.

"A passing tramp may have thought the opportunity too good to be
neglected."

"At all events," I persisted, "it is curious that two similar accidents
should have occurred the same night in the same part of the country."

"Certainly the coincidence is remarkable," answered Winter. "But do not
forget that the two occurrences took place at least a hundred and
thirty miles apart within less than three hours of one another. I will
swear that no motor yet built would cover those roads inside three
hours. I know them. No, Sutgrove. The moral seems to me to be that it is
unwise for a motorman to look upon the wine when it is red, if he wants
to get anywhere afterwards."

The Colonel stretched his hand across the table and removed the glass
which stood on the table before Winter.

"My young friend," he observed, "you have, I believe, undertaken to
bring me safely home to-night?"

"You need not fear," replied Winter, laughing, "it's only the liquors
supplied at country inns which drive motor-cars into ditches."

The Colonel replaced the glass with a smile and refilled his own from
the cradled bottle at his elbow.

"I am merely a passenger, but you drive," he remarked. "I think,
Sutgrove, under the circumstances, I will be responsible for the
remainder of this bottle. It is endowed with certain qualities which
particularly recommend themselves to me. It would be a sad thing if an
accident w