hey were observed. After a
moment she halted.

"Wait!" she said. "I--am not sure we dare risk going farther, for the
streets are alarmed and the Wolf is in the neighborhood with all his
pack. I had thought to take you straight home, but now they will be
watching. It would be madness to try it." Again she fell silent, only to
exclaim: "I have an idea. Come!" She turned abruptly to the right.

"Where are we going now?" he inquired, mildly.

She pointed to a house the back yard of which abutted upon the one that
they were crossing. "Yonder is your cousin Alfred's house. He is away at
business, the servants are out watching the carnival, and so it is
empty. Do you dare venture it?"

"Just the thing!" he said, amiably. "I owe Alfred a call."

The girl laughed shortly. "Ah! He would die of rage--or fright--if he
knew; but you can wait there while I go--"

"Oh, I say! You're not going to leave me?" queried Roly in genuine
alarm.

"Of course, silly! Some one must bring her."

Van Dam fell silent, speculating upon this last remark. After a moment
he said, "You're sure Alfred won't return?"

"Who knows? We must run some hazards. The key will be under the step, I
think. Come!"

They gained ingress to the next inclosure through a cedar hedge. Then,
as they neared the back door, a distant commotion sounded from the
stable-yard, warning them that the Spider's friends had stumbled upon
him. But the girl's ready fingers found the key where it was hidden, and
an instant later they were in a spotless creole kitchen ornamented with
shining pots and pans. A cat rose from a sleepy window-ledge, arched its
back, and stretched.

With a warning gesture Van Dam's guide bade him wait, then disappeared,
returning in a moment.

"It is as I thought--the house is empty." She beckoned him, and he
followed her past a pantry, down a hall, and into a study furnished with
a considerable degree of elegance. Drawn blinds shut out the glaring
heat; it was dim and cool and restful.

The maiden heaved a sigh of relief and steadied herself against one of
the massive mahogany chairs, showing by her attitude that the recent
strain had told upon her.

"Heaven be praised! You are safe here, for a time at least," she managed
to say.

"Nice, comfy place, this," remarked Van Dam, with an appreciative glance
at the surroundings. "We can sit here and--and get acquainted--eh?"

"Hm-m! I think I have learned to know you quite well in the past
half-h