"and very
fortunately a draft to my credit arrived to-day, which I've not yet
cashed."

"Good!" said Spotts. "We're in luck. Give Tyb fifty."

Banborough whipped out a roll of bills and handed the desired amount to
the tragedian without demur.

"Now, off you go," cried his brother actor, "and keep your wits about
you."

Smith nodded and hailed a passing cab.

"Come," said Spotts to the author, "we've no time to lose."

"What's your plan?" asked Cecil as they swung round the corner and
sighted the police station.

"Haven't got any as yet. We'll see how the land lies first. The Black
Maria's still before the door. That's lucky!"

Sure enough, there it was, looking gloomily like an undertaker's wagon,
minus the plate glass.

"Must be hot inside," commented the actor, directing a glance at the two
little grated slits high up in the folding doors at the back, which
apparently formed the only means of ventilation.

Cecil shuddered as he thought of the discomforts which the girl must be
enduring, and longed to throw himself upon the vehicle and batter it to
pieces. But calmer judgment prevailed, and controlling himself he
approached the police station, saying:

"Let me go first. You might be recognised. I'll try and find out where
she's to be taken."

He accordingly went up to the driver of the Black Maria, who, cap in
hand, was wiping his perspiring forehead.

"A fine pair of horses that," he said, indicating the mettlesome bays
attached to the vehicle, which, in spite of their brisk run, were
tossing their heads and fretting to be off.

"Oh, they're good enough," was the curt reply. "A trifle fresh, but we
need that in our business."

"Something interesting on to-day?" queried Cecil.

"Who the devil are you, anyway?" asked the driver abruptly. And the
Englishman, lying boldly, replied:

"I'm the new reporter on the _Daily Leader_. I was here last week with
Mr. Marchmont on a burglary case."

"Oh, the New Rochelle robbery," suggested the driver.

Cecil acquiesced, drawing a quiet sigh of relief that his random shot
had hit the mark.

"Yes," he said, "that's it. I was introduced round, but I don't remember
meeting you."

"Might have been the other driver, Jim?"

"Now I come to think of it, it was Jim."

"Jus' so. Well, there's copy for you in this case."

"So I imagined. It's your first political arrest, isn't it?"

"That's where the hitch comes in," said the man. "I don't know where to
deliv