lightly bewildered by his sudden change of
fortune, but it was plain to be seen that he regarded his new employer
with worshipful admiration and respect, and she in turn was satisfied,
from his discussion of technical details with the several automobile
salesmen, that he was sufficiently expert for her purposes. His
loyalty remained to be proven, but she had learned to read faces
swiftly and surely, and she had formed an instinctive belief that he
was worthy of trust.

The car she decided upon was a gray roadster, light and high-powered
with long low lines like a racer and a multiplicity of cylinders which
made Dan fairly delirious with joy. This important matter settled, she
gave him his initial instructions.

"You are simply to hold yourself in readiness for a call from me at any
hour of the day or night. You are to obey no summons unless you hear
my voice over the telephone, or a written order in my handwriting is
brought to you--unless a hunch backed boy about sixteen, a foreigner
with very dark skin, should come to you. In that case, you are to
accompany him wherever he directs. Do you drink, Dan?"

"Only beer, and not that when I'm on the job, Miss." He eyed her
straightforwardly. "I don't go joy-ridin', and I keep my mouth shut,
and ask no questions. I'll be on the spot when you want me, Miss, and
there till the finish."

"I'm sure you will!" she smiled. "I sha'n't mind your asking questions
so much as answering them. There are apt to be quite a few people
interested in our doings, Dan; a young man and two older ones
particularly, and they will try all sorts of methods to get information
from you."

"Let 'em," he responded, briefly. "It's precious-little dope they'll
get out of me! But have you forgotten the registry, Miss, and the
license?"

"No." Willa drew a roll of bills from her purse. "It had better be
attended to at once, for I don't know how soon I may need you. That's
why I insisted upon having their exhibition car, without waiting for
delivery. Take this and get yourself an outfit; something dark and
neat, not noticeable so that it could be easily described. Then can't
you take out the license in your own name? You can refer to me if you
like, and say that I gave you the car."

"As if you'd set me up in the renting business, maybe," he observed
shrewdly. "I guess I can put it over, Miss. I've got a good, clean
record in taxi'-driving, and I know most of the cops. You'll 'ph