It was the work of but a few moments to get one automobile righted again, when it was found to be not seriously impaired; but the other one was wrecked beyond possibility of help that night. "You'll both have to go back to Roma in this one," said Gertrude's chauffeur to Allingham. "If you'll permit me?" queried Allingham to the young woman standing erect in the shade of the whispering pines. "But if you would prefer, I will stay at the farmhouse." "No, no," answered Gertrude. "You must get back to the city and your physician at once. That is, if you can endure the ride." "O, I'm all right. I was stunned a little, that's all, and my forehead seems to have been scratched quite a bit," said Allingham. "But come, if we are to ride together, we must get in." He helped her to her seat and got in himself, while the two men tucked them in warmly and then climbed into the front seat. It was but a few moments before they were on the road again, spinning towards the city more than twenty miles away. "Now, tell me," Allingham began, after making sure they were on the return road, "how did you happen to be here? I am devoured with curiosity." "Don't you know--surely?" she returned. "Know?--I? How should I?" was the answer in a tone that convinced the young woman, for the time being, anyway. "Why," she hesitated. "It looked suspicious--or at least--well, somebody was behind it." "You don't mean to say you were kidnaped, too," cried Allingham. "I seem to see light ahead." "I had just ordered my carriage to go to the hall and was all ready to start," explained Gertrude, "when the automobile appeared, the chauffeur saying he had been sent for me. I supposed the committee had sent him--" "Just as I supposed my committee had sent for me," interposed Allingham. "Once in, and off, we came so fast I hardly realized anything until we were out of town; and when I tried to open the door I couldn't, it was fastened some way, on the outside; while as for making that automaton hear--well!--" "The same in my case," said Allingham. "I was locked in. I've been attributing my ride to Bailey Armstrong's minions--and I presume you've been giving mine the credit for yours; but we probably owe it to the City Hall crowd. For Burke, I hear, is getting a good deal worried over tomorrow's election. But here we are, alive and with reason to be thankful." "O, no, no," cried Gertrude, "think of that hall full of disappointed people--of the friends who believe in our good faith--of how we have failed to keep our promises. O, no, we cannot be thankful!"