stood the suggestion of his hesitation.

"I said good night!" he spoke curtly.

The taxi man understood this time; there was no mistaking the firmness
of the hint, and he started his machine away.

The Bartons lived in one of the apartments of the building. The front
door was locked, and so Bob was forced reluctantly to ring the bell
beneath the name which indicated their particular letter box.

He waited, holding the young girl in his arms.

"Oh, I'm so sick!" he heard her say faintly, and he realized that she
was regaining consciousness.

"If only I can get her upstairs quietly," he thought.

He was about to swing her body around in his arms so that he could ring
once more when there was a turning of the knob.

"Who is it?" came a frightened voice.

It was Mary Barton at the doorway.

"S-s-s-h!" cautioned Bob. "It's Burke. I'm bringing Miss Lorna home?
Don't make any noise."

"Oh!" gasped the unhappy sister. "What's wrong? Is she hurt?"

"No!" said Bob. "Fortunately not."

"Is she-- Oh-- Is she--drunk?"

Burke calmed her with the reassurance of his low, steady voice.

"No, Miss Mary. She was drugged by those rascals, and I saved her in
time. Please don't cry, or make a noise. Let me take her upstairs and
help you. It's better if she does not know that I was the one to bring
her home."

Mary tried to help him; but Bob carried the girl on into the hall.

"Is your father awake?"

"No; I told him two hours ago, when he asked me from his room, that
Lorna had returned and was asleep. He believed me. I had to fib to
save him from breaking his dear old daddy heart. Is she injured at
all?"

It was plainly evident that the poor girl was holding her nerves in
leash with a tremendous effort.

Bob kept on toward the stairs.

"She'll be all right when you get her into her room. Give her some
smelling salts, and don't tell your father. Didn't he hear the bell?"

"No; I've been waiting for her. I put some paper in the bell so that
it would only buzz when it rang. Let me help you, Mr. Burke. How on
earth did you----" She was eager in spite of her anxiety.

To see the young officer returning with her sister this way was more of
a mystery than she could fathom. But, at Bob's sibilant command for
silence, she trustingly obeyed, and went up before him to guide the way
along the darkened stairway.

At last they reached the door of their apartment.

Mary opened it, and Bob entered, walki