close his eyes, but he was conscious that the car was
gaining speed rapidly.

The situation was as difficult as it was dangerous. He planned nothing
less than to climb into the car and deal with Arima even while they were
flying along the road. But he must wait until they had gone a safe
distance from the battleground. On the other hand, he must act before
they got into the thickly settled streets of the town.

He figured that they had gone about a quarter of a mile, when he began
his effort. Pulling himself up by his hands, he peered over the back of
the tonneau. He could see Arima, huddled forward over the steering-wheel,
doubtless watching the road ahead with a careful eye for obstacles and
for the police.

For Arima was driving the car at a law-breaking speed. Clearly, he was an
adept at motoring. But Orme did not stop to ask himself how a humble
teacher of jiu-jitsu--a professional athlete--had acquired so much skill
in the handling of a car.

It proved hard to get into the tonneau. Several times he got one leg
almost over the back, only to be dislodged as the car bumped into a rut
or over a stone. Once he almost lost his grip entirely. But a final
effort gave him a leg-hold, and slowly--very slowly--he climbed over to
the leather cushions of the wide seat.

If Arima now turned and saw him, almost anything might happen. But before
he could become conscious that anyone was near him, Orme was crouching in
the tonneau.

The car was going at a thirty-five-mile clip. The street lights were
flashing by, and not far ahead were the frequent lights of houses.
Nothing could be done here; therefore Orme got down as low as he could.
He realized that he would have to wait till they had passed through the
town.

Arima had not remained on the Sheridan Road. He had taken a street which
struck off from it, more directly southward, and Orme surmised that the
intention was to avoid the main streets of Evanston.

When the car came to a cross street and turned westward this surmise was
strengthened. They bumped over railroad tracks. Several times they passed
other vehicles.

Presently Orme raised his head and discovered that the houses were
thinning out. The car appeared to be heading straight into the open
country, and Arima put on more speed. Forty miles an hour was not a high
estimate for the rate at which they were traveling.

For several minutes Orme continued in his crouching position. The
positions of the stars tol