must not tell you! I couldn't!" said the girl, her hand fluttering
up to her heart, as if to hold its wild beating from stifling her. "I am
sorry to have involved you for a moment in this. Please let me out here. I
am not frightened, now that I got away from that terrible tunnel. I was
afraid I might have to go in there alone, for I didn't see any way to get
up the bank, and I couldn't go back."

"I am glad I happened to be there," breathed the young man fervently. "It
would have been dangerous for you to enter that tunnel. It runs an entire
block. You would probably have been killed."

The girl shut her eyes and pressed her fingers to them. In the light of
the street lamps, he saw that she was very white, and also that there were
jewels flashing from the rings on her fingers. It was apparent that she
was a lady of wealth and refinement. What could have brought her to this
pass?

The carriage came to a sudden stop, and, looking out, he saw they had
reached his home. A new alarm seized him as the girl moved as if to get
out. His dignified mother and his fastidious sister were probably not in,
but if by any chance they should not have left the house, what would they
think if they saw a strange, hatless young woman descend from the carriage
with him? Moreover, what would the butler think?

"Excuse me," he said, "but, really, there are reasons why I shouldn't like
you to get out of the carriage just here. Suppose you sit still until I
come out. I have a dinner engagement and must make a few changes in my
dress, but it will take me only a few minutes. You are in no danger, and I
will take you to some place of safety. I will try to think what to do
while I am gone. On no account get out of the carriage. It would make the
driver suspicious, you know. If you are really followed, he will let no
one disturb you in the carriage, of course. Don't distress yourself. I'll
hurry. Can you give me the address of any friend to whom I might 'phone or
telegraph?"

She shook her head and there was a glitter of tears in her eyes as she
replied:

"No, I know of no one in the city who could help me."

"I will help you, then," he said with sudden resolve, and in a tone that
would be a comfort to any woman in distress.

His tone and the look of respectful kindliness he gave her kept the girl
in the carriage until his return, although in her fear and sudden distrust
of all the world, she thought more than once of attempting to slip away.