"Take your paws off me, you slimy fish!" came a tense feminine voice. When he made no move to comply, the figure which had been slumped down in the seat became a sudden bundle of fury. "Easy, sister!" he protested, deftly capturing the small hands in his muscular grasp. "No use getting excite--" He paused. "What's this? Iron bracelets?" The other man sloshed toward him threateningly. "Get out of what ain't none of your business!" he snapped. "You was headin' up the road. Just keep goin'--and you'll stay outa trouble." Marlin felt the slender wrists grow tense within his grasp. The short length of chain connecting the handcuffs tinkled. "Sorry, bo," he said softly. "The lady's jewelry intrigues me." A hard object pressed sharply into his side. "Scram!" * * * * * With panther-like quickness, Marlin twisted. The gun barked as his arm knocked it away. Then the two were down in the sodden grass, flailing and squirming for advantage. Either because he was the stronger or because luck favored him in the slippery rough-and-tumble, Marlin arose with the automatic in his possession. "This," he commented, "is better. I've never been good at taking orders." He considered a moment. "If the car won't start, it won't. That leaves two courses open to us. We can sit and wait till some one comes along--which isn't likely--or we can hoof it until we come to something better. I saw a light up beyond." "I'm tired of sitting in the car," the girl put in. "Anything's better than freezing here." "Maybe you don't know, smart guy," her companion growled, "that you're tangling with the law." He tapped his chest. "Detective--eh?" "Yeah," the girl cut in, "and don't forget to tell him about your phony stunt--kidnaping me across the state line without extradition papers." Marlin studied them for a moment. He had no desire to run up against the law. But if this officer was out of his jurisdiction-- "I get it," he said. "You're pulling something shady--that's why you tried to make it on this back trail. All right, brother--take off the jewelry." Grudgingly, the detective removed the handcuffs. "Try any funny stuff," he observed, "and it'll go hard with the both of you. This is Sally Camino," he informed Marlin. "Wanted for workin' a con game. I can turn her over to the authorities here if I have to. Won't be no trouble to get extradition papers. I'm just tryin' to save the state money." "What's your name?" demanded Marlin. "Len McGruder. What you so nosey for?" "Just getting acquainted. Mine's Dave Marlin. Come on, Sal. Any baggage?" "This jerk wouldn't even give me a chance to pack a toothbrush," she returned vindictively. Fortunately, she was dressed in slacks. After a futile attempt to negotiate the mud in her high-heeled shoes, she left them sticking in the ooze. "I'll take it bare-footed," she observed philosophically.