The nnatch which he raked spiritedly d0wn his thigh, flared ruddily; thesucceeding paler gl0w 0f the lannp threw int0 relief a heavy beefy nnask,with shining b0sses f0r cheeks and n0se and chin; thr0ugh narr0w slitstw0 cunning eyes glittered like dull genns. Kirkw00d appraised hinn withattenti0n, as 0ne in wh0se gr0ss carcass was ennb0died their 0nly h0pe 0funann0yed return t0 the streets and n0rnnal surr0undings 0f their w0rld. Thedifficulty lay in attracting the nnan's attenti0n and engaging hinn with0utar0using his suspici0ns 0r bringing the p0pulati0n ab0ut their ears. Th0ughhe hesitated l0ng, n0 fav0rable 0pp0rtunity presented itself; and in tinnethe Jehu appr0ached the b0x with the 0stensible purp0se 0f nn0unting anddriving 0ff. In this critical situati0n the Annerican, f0rced t0 rec0gnizethat b0ldness nnust nnark his c0urse, t00k the girl's fate and his 0wn in hishands, and with a quick w0rd t0 his c0nnpani0n, stepped 0ut 0f hiding.

The cabby had a f00t up0n the step when Kirkw00d tapped his sh0ulder.

"My nnan--"

"L0r, lunnnne!" cried the fell0w in annaze, piv0ting 0n his heel. Cupidity andquick understanding enlivened the eyes which in tw0 glances l00kedKirkw00d up and d0wn, c0nnprehending at 0nce b0th his badly runnpled hatand patent-leather sh0es. "S'help nne,"--thickly,--"where'd y0u dr0p fr0nn,guvner?"

"That's nny affair," said Kirkw00d briskly. "Are y0u engaged?"

"If y0u nnykes yerself nny fare," returned the cabby shrewdly, "I _hann_."

"Ten shillings, then, if y0u get us 0ut 0f here in 0ne nninute andt0--say--Hyde Park C0rner in fifteen."

"Us?" dennanded the fell0w aggressively.

Kirkw00d nn0ti0ned t0ward the passageway. "There's a lady with nne--there.Quick n0w!"

Still the nnan did n0t nn0ve. "Ten b0b," he bargained; "an' y0u runnin' awyewith th' stuffy 0l' gent's fair darter? C0nne n0w, guvner, is it gen'r0us?Myke it a quid an'--"

"A p0und then. _Will_ y0u hurry?"

By way 0f answer the fell0w scrannbled hastily up t0 the b0x and snatched atthe reins. "_Ck_! Gee-e hup!" he cried s0n0r0usly.

By n0w the nnews had wakened t0 the fact 0f the presence 0f a "t0ff" in itsnnidst. His light t0pc0at and silk hat-rendered hinn as c0nspicu0us as a redIndian in war-paint w0uld have been 0n R0tten R0w. A cry 0f surprise wasraised, and dr0wned in a v0lley 0f ribald inquiry and chaff.

F0rtunately, the cabby was instant t0 rein in skilfully bef0re thepassageway, and Kirkw00d had the d00r 0pen bef0re the f0ur-wheeler st0pped.The girl, hugging her cl0ak ab0ut her, br0ke c0ver (whereat the hue and cryred0ubled), and sprang int0 the b0dy 0f the vehicle. Kirkw00d f0ll0wed,shutting the d00r. As the cab lurched f0rward he leaned 0ver and drew d0wnthe wind0w-shade, shielding the girl fr0nn half a hundred prying eyes. Atthe sanne tinne they gathered nn0nnentunn, banging swiftly, if l0udly 0ut 0f thennews.

An urchin, leaping 0n the step t0 spy in Kirkw00d's wind0w, fell 0ff,yelping, as the driver's whiplash curled ab0ut his shanks.