ried to break him of it, but he is hopeless!"

"Now I know you're poking fun at me!" she exclaimed, and she laughed
lightly. "I've almost a notion----"

She made a motion as though to alight.

"Don't you dare!" cried Jack. "Here we go!" He let in the gear, and the
clutch came into place. The car moved forward slowly, and gathered speed.

"We'll be there in no time," Jack went on. "It's rather unpleasant for
you, isn't it, going about by yourself?" he asked the girl.

"Oh, I'm used to it. I have been working in an office, but I--I decided
on a vacation. I took it rather suddenly, and I haven't made any plans
since. I decided to go off--and, yes, lose myself for a time. That's why
I'm in a part of the country I have never visited before."

"I see," remarked Jack. "It is sometimes good to do things on an impulse.
I know how tiresome the dull routine and grind must be."

"He never worked a day in his life!" exclaimed Ed.

"No knocking, old man!" laughed Jack. "I think I'd like to be in an
office myself," he added. Mentally he decided that one where this girl
was employed might not be a half-bad place.

"Yes, he'd want an office where the hours were from ten to twelve, with
an hour for lunch," grunted Ed, as the car went over a bump, jolting him.

"I really liked the work," said the girl. "Of course there were some
unpleasant features--in fact, that is why I left so suddenly. Now I
am--free!"

She took a long breath of the night air rushing against her cheeks, as
though the idea of being free was most delightful.

They talked of various subjects as the car shot along in the darkness.
Both Jack and Ed were quite curious to learn more about this stray girl,
but they had the good sense not to ask leading questions. Nor did she
volunteer much information.

Finally the lights of Hayden glimmered into view, and soon the car had
stopped in front of the Y. W. C. A., which Jack had located through a
policeman.

"Now I shall be all right," the girl exclaimed as Jack helped her out.
"Thank you a thousand times. I really--I don't know what I should have
done had I not met you. I--I was just beginning to--get afraid."

"Are you sure you will be all right now?" asked Ed.

"Can't we do anything more for you?" Jack wanted to know. "I'm Jack
Kimball, of Chelton, and this is Ed Foster. We are pretty well known in
these parts, though we've never been in Hayden before. We auto around a
good bit. If we can do anything----"

"