He threw his arms about her slim, silver-clad waist and planted a
popping kiss on her cheek. The flat of the girl's hand caught his
face, hard. Drake sobered a degree.

"My jacket!" her voice was strained and tense. "Please! I must have it
at once."

Drake was interested. His pale eyes started to show fight.

"Sure!" he said. "But it's _my_ jacket."

The sirens were dying now. A powerful police car shot to the curb
behind them. Puffy's eyes narrowed and he drove the coupe away from
the club smoothly.

"Too hot around here," he said to no one in particular. "Can't stand
the smell of copper's feet."

Sylvia Fanton's dress was badly ripped on one side. The silken
stocking and smooth flesh of her thigh was visible through the tear.

"Please!" There were tears in her cold eyes. "I _must_ have the
jacket. It _is_ mine, you know."

Drake was coy.

"Aw," he insisted. "I had a ticket for it."

She slipped between them, her arm around Drake's shoulder. Realizing
that he was drunk, she tried a different approach.

"Now what would you do with it?" she asked sweetly. "You would look
funny wearing a silver fox jacket. You'd be just an old fox."

Jim hesitated. Then he slipped the jacket from his arm and around her
soft shoulder.

"I'll make a deal with you," he suggested. "Let us take you home and
you can have the old animal."

* * * * *

For the first time his eyes were clearing enough to get a really good
look at the girl at his side. He started to wonder vaguely how she had
gotten here. She was small and her tiny face seemed almost cupid-like
to his uncertain vision. Her eyes were frightened like the eyes of a
timid animal.

"Okay!" Puffy said sharply. "You've made a bargain. I ain't driving
all night. Where to?"

Her voice snapped out sharp and cold.

"Nowhere. Stop right here."

Jim Drake chuckled.

"Wait a minute," he stammered. "Be a sport. You promised."

He looked away for an instant, trying to shake some of the fog from
his head. When he looked back the girl was gone. There between them on
the seat was a small silver fox.

He shook his head dazedly and groaned.

"They got me," he moaned. "Stop car. I got to...."

Puffy took his eyes from the road. A sharp oath escaped his lips. The
brakes squealed as he felt sharp teeth settle deeply into his wrist.
Howling with pain he twisted the coupe to the curb.

The fox released its grip and leaped gracefully over the