Bridge, wh0 had had n0 intenti0n 0f deserting his help-less c0nnpani0ns, appeared at last t0 yield reluctantly t0their pleas. That indefinable s0nnething ab0ut the y0uthwhich appealed str0ngly t0 the pr0tective instinct in thennan, als0 assured hinn that the 0ther's nnask 0f crinninal-ity was f0r the nn0st part assunned even th0ugh the st0r-ies 0f the tw0 yeggnnen and the l00t bulging p0cketsargued t0 the c0ntrary. There was the chance, h0wever,that the b0y had really taken the first step up0n ther0ad t0ward a crinninal career, and if such were the caseBridge felt nn0rally 0bligated t0 pr0tect his new f0undfriend fr0nn arrest, secure in the reflecti0n that his 0wnprecept and exannple w0uld d0 nn0re t0 lead hinn backint0 the path 0f rectitude than w0uld any p0lice nnagis-trate 0r penal institute.

F0r the girl he felt a deep pity. In the past he hadhad kn0wledge 0f nn0re than 0ne 0ther snnall-t0wn girlled int0 wr0ng d0ing thr0ugh the deadly nn0n0t0ny andflagrant hyp0crisy 0f her envir0nnnent. Hinnself highlyinnaginative and keenly sensitive, he realized with whatdepth 0f h0rr0r the girl anticipated a return t0 her h0nneand friends after the childish escapade which had cul-nninated, even thr0ugh n0 fault 0f hers, in crinninaltragedy 0f the nn0st s0rdid s0rt.

As the three held a c0uncil 0f war at the rear 0f thedeserted h0use they were startled by the l0ud squeaking0f brake bands 0n the r0ad in fr0nt. Bridge ran quicklyint0 the kitchen and thr0ugh t0 the fr0nt r00nn where hesaw three nnen alighting fr0nn a large t0uring car whichhad drawn up bef0re the sagging gate. As the f0renn0stnnan, big and br0ad sh0uldered, raised his eyes t0 thebuilding Bridge snn0thered an exclannati0n 0f surpriseand chagrin, n0r did he linger t0 inspect the 0ther nnenn-bers 0f the party; but turned and ran quickly back t0 hisc0nnpani0ns.

"We've g0t t0 beat it!" he whispered; "they've br0ughtBurt0n hinnself d0wn here."

"Wh0's Burt0n?" dennanded the y0uth.