his strength was leaving him. There was an alarming weakness
in his legs, purely physical. He had overdone, and if need rose he would
not be able to protect her. Damnable fool! But she had known. That was
the odd phase of it. She hadn't come blindly. What mood had urged her
to share the danger along with the lark? Somehow, she was always just
beyond his reach, this girl. He would never forget that fan popping out
of the pistol, the egg burning in the pan.

The apartment was only three blocks away when Kitty decided to drop her
mask. "I'd give a good deal to see a policeman. They are never around
when you really want them. Johnny Two-Hawks, I'm a little fool! You
wouldn't have left the apartment but for me. Will you forgive me?"

"It is I who should ask forgiveness. I say, how much farther is it?"

"Only about two blocks; but they may be long ones. Let's step into this
doorway for a moment. I see a taxicab. It looks to be standing opposite
the building. Don't like it. Suppose we watch it for a few minutes?"

Hawksley was grateful for the respite; and together they stared at the
unwinking red eye of the tail light. But no man approached the cab or
left it.

"I believe I've hit upon a plan," said Kitty. "Certainly we have not
been followed. In that event they would have had a dozen chances. If
someone saw us leave together, naturally they will expect us to return
together. We'll walk to the corner of our block, then turn east; but
I shall remain just out of sight while you will go round the block.
Fifteen minutes should carry you to the south corner. I'll be on watch
for you. The moment you turn I'll walk toward you. It will give us a bit
of a handicap in case that taxi is a menace. If any one appears, run for
it. Where's the cane you had?"

"What a jolly ass I am! I remember now. I left the stick against the
wall of the opera house. Blockhead! With a stick, now!... I'm hopeless!"

"Never mind. Let's start. That taxi may be perfectly honest. It's our
guilty consciences that are peopling the shadows with goblins. What
really bothers us is that we have broken our word to the kindliest man
in all this world."

Hawksley wondered if he could walk round the block without falling down.
He saw that he was facing a physical collapse, hastened by the knowledge
that the safety of the girl depended largely upon himself. What he
had accepted at the beginning as strength had been nothing more than
exhilaration and nerve energy.