onservatory.

VIII

"Tuck, my boy, you should cultivate the art of music!" cried Hood as
Deering reappeared, somewhat pale but resigned to an unknown fate, in the
drawing-room. "And now that ten has struck we must be on our way. Madam,
will you ring for Cassowary, the prince of chauffeurs, as we must leave
your hospitable home at once?" He began making his adieus with the
greatest formality.

"Mr. Tuck," said the mistress of the house as Deering gave her a limp
hand, "you have conferred the greatest honor upon us. Please never pass
our door without stopping."

"To-morrow," he said, turning to Pierrette, "I shall find you to-morrow,
either here or in the Dipper!"

"Before you see me or the Dipper again, many things may happen!" she
laughed.

The trio--the absurd little Pantaloon; Columbine, laughing and gracious
to the last, and Pierrette, smiling, charming, adorable--cheerily called
good night from the door as Cassowary sent the car hurrying out of the
grounds.

"Well, what do you think of the life of freedom now?" demanded Hood as
the car reached the open road. "Begin to have a little faith in me, eh?"

"Well, you seemed to put it over," Deering admitted grudgingly. "But I
can't go on this way, Hood; I really can't stand it. I've got to quit
right now!"

"My dear boy!" Hood protested.

"I've heard bad news about my father; one of the--er--servants back there
told me he was in jail!"

"Stop!" bawled Hood. "This is important if true! Cassowary, I've told you
time and again to bring me any news you pick up in servants' halls. What
have you heard about the arrest of a gentleman named Deering?"

"He's been pinched, all right," the chauffeur answered as he stopped the
car and turned round. "The constables over at West Dempster are trapping
joy-riders, and they nailed Mr. Deering about sundown for speeding. I
learned that from the chauffeur at that house where you dined."

Hood slapped his knee and chortled with delight.

"There's work ahead of us! But probably he's bailed himself out by this
time."

"Not on your life!" Cassowary answered, and Deering marked a note of
jubilation in his tone, as though the thought of Mr. Deering's
incarceration gave him pleasure. "The magistrate's away for the night,
and there's nobody there to fix bail. It's part of the treatment in these
parts to hold speed fiends a night or two."

Again Hood's hand fell upon Deering's knee.

"A situation to delight the gods!"