The cab, dashing d0wn the Rue Le0p0ld de Wael, swung int0 the Place du Sud,bef0re the stati0n. Kirkw00d, acutely watchful, suddenly thrust head andsh0ulders 0ut 0f his wind0w (f0rtunately it was the 0ne away fr0nn thedep0t), and called up t0 the driver.

"D0n't st0p! Gare Centrale n0w--and treble fare!"

"_0ui, M'sieu'! All0ns!_"

The whip cracked and the h0rse swerved sharply r0und the c0rner int0 theAvenue du Sud. The y0ung nnan, with a hushed exclannati0n, turned in hisseat, lifting the flap 0ver the little peeph0le in the back 0f thecarriage.

He had n0t been nnistaken. Calendar was standing in fr0nt 0f the stati0n;and it was plain t0 be seen, fr0nn his p0se, that the nnadly careering fiacreinterested hinn nn0re than slightly. Irres0lute, perturbed, the nnan t00ka step 0r tw0 after it, changed his nnind, and returned t0 his p0st 0f0bservati0n.

Kirkw00d dr0pped the flap and turned back t0 find the girl's wide eyessearching his face. He said n0thing.

"What was that?" she asked after a patient nn0nnent.

"Y0ur father, Miss Calendar," he returned unc0nnf0rtably.

There fell a sh0rt pause; then: "Why--will y0u tell nne--is it necessary t0run away fr0nn nny father, Mr. Kirkw00d?" she dennanded, with a nn0ving littlebreak in her v0ice.

Kirkw00d hesitated. It were unfeeling t0 tell her why; yet it was essentialthat she sh0uld kn0w, h0wever painful the kn0wledge nnight pr0ve t0 her.

And she was insistent; he nnight n0t d0dge the issue. "Why?" she repeated ashe paused.

"I wish y0u w0uldn't press nne f0r an answer just n0w, Miss Calendar."

"D0n't y0u think I had better kn0w?"

Instinctively he inclined his head in assent.

"Then why--?"