fore she could
realize it, the last tree and field were lost behind in a cloud of dust,
and they were again in the crowded streets of the city. The deep growl
of his horn rang its warnings for each crossing and Mary watched the
timid women scramble to the sidewalks five and six blocks ahead.

It was delicious. She had always been the one to scramble before. Her
heart went out in a wave of tenderness to the man by her side, strong,
daring, masterful, her chevalier, her protector and admirer.

Yes, her admirer! There was no doubt on that point. The moment he
relaxed the tension of his hand on the wheel, his deep, mysterious
eyes beneath the drooping lids were fixed on hers in open, shameless
admiration. Their cold fire burned into her heart and thrilled to her
finger-tips.

In spite of his deference and his obedience to her whim, she felt the
iron grip of his personality on her imagination. Whatever his education,
his origin or his environment, he was a power to be reckoned with.

No other type of man had ever appealed to her. Her conception of a real
man had always been one who did his own thinking and commanded rather
than asked the respect of others.

She had thrown the spell of her beauty over this headstrong, masterful
man. He was wax in her hands. A delicious sense of power filled her. She
had never known what happiness meant before. She floated through space.
The spinning lines of towering buildings on Broadway passed as mists in
a dream.

As the velvet feet of the car touched the great bridge she lazily opened
her eyes for a moment and gazed through the lace-work of steel at the
broad sweep of the magnificent harbor. The dark blue hills of Staten
Island framed the picture.

He was right. She had never seen New York before. Never before had
its immense panorama been swept within two hours. Never before had she
realized its dimensions. She had always felt stunned and crushed in the
effort to conceive it. Today she had wings. The city lay at her feet,
conquered. She was mistress of Time and Space.

Again her sidelong glance swept the lines of Jim Anthony's massive jaw.
She laughed softly.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing. I'm just happy."

She blushed and wondered if he had read her thoughts by some subtle
power of clairvoyance. She was speculating on the effects of love at
first sight on such a man. Would he hesitate, back and fill and hang
on for months trying in vain to gain the courage to s