"Oh, is it you, Miss Ainsworth?" And the officer smiled. "I did not recognize you. That is all right. Your car is a Rolls, isn't it? We are looking for a man in a Rolls--but I can hardly hold you." He turned his pocket flash upon Amos Hiltze. "This is my friend, Mr. Hiltze," she explained. "I think you do not want him, either." "No, I think not. Yet our man is supposed to have come this way. If you see any men on foot, or any one in trouble, better not stop. We'll have a man out that way pretty soon." "Thank you," said Eveley. "Good night." And again they were on their way. "Poor Mr. Man in the Rolls," she said after a while. "I wonder what mischief he has been into." "I wonder." "I hope he gets away. Perhaps he is not so bad as they think, and may do better next time. Or maybe he had a reason." "I am sure of that," said Hiltze with some earnestness. "There is always a reason, I think." Through La Mesa, through El Cajon, they drove in silence as they had driven once before, when they went for Marie the first time. Only then Eveley had been quivering with anxiety and nervousness--and now it was only hope and joy. But was it only hope and joy? For she realized suddenly that her hands were gripping the wheel with nervous intensity, and that she was shivering. "Are you cold?" "I do not know," she faltered. He turned slightly in his seat, and reached for a rug. "A disorderly pile on the floor as usual," he said with a slight smile. "Don't your friends ever put the rugs back on the rack, Eveley?" "No, never," she replied, smiling, too, but gravely. He tucked the rug closely about her, but she still shivered, and a sense of dread was heavy upon her. When they came at last to the branch in the road, he looked carefully about in every direction, and then told her to drive quickly. Under his direction she took the car far back from the road in a sheltered place, and stopped the engine. "Please hurry, will you? I have not Angelo with me this time, and I am afraid." "Eveley, I must talk to you first. You know I love you, you must know it. You have tried to discourage me, but I will not take discouragement. I shall never go away without you." "Are you going away?" "Yes, to-night. Business takes me away. I am going to South America. I have money--lots of money, and we can start afresh and do well. But I can not go without you." "Mr. Hiltze, it is impossible. I do not love you. I told you that before." "But you will love me. If you come away with me, and take time, you can love me. I will be good to you, and not hurry you. You must let yourself go, and try." "But I do not wish to. Love should not be forced. It ought to come spontaneously of itself. And I love Nolan." "Damn Nolan! Oh, I don't mean that, but--Eveley, you will forget him. Just come with me, and give yourself time. Marie will go with us--" "Marie." "Yes, she has promised to go with us, to help make you happy." "Then she is not sick?" "No, not sick."