"Trust me, lady," said the chauffeur, grinding again at his hooded music-box. "I've been doing stunts with this car since I saw you last. Been over a hundred miles from Sunbeam. Begins to look as though Florida wasn't going to be big enough, after all." He leaped to the wheel, and again that ancient automobile carried Cynthia Meyrick and the representative of Lloyds out of the town of Sunbeam. But the exit was not a laughing one. The girl's eyes were serious, cold, and with real concern in his voice Minot spoke: "Won't you forgive me--can't you? I was only trying to be faithful to the man who sent me down here--faithful through everything--as I should be faithful to you if you gave me the chance. Is it too late--Cynthia--" "There was a time," said the girl, her eyes wide, "when it was not too late. Have you forgotten? That night on the balcony, when I threw myself at your feet, and you turned away. Do you think that was a happy moment for me?" "Was it happy for me, for that matter?" "Oh, I was humiliated, ashamed. Then your silly rescue of my gown--your advice to me to marry Harrowby--" "Would you have had me throw over the men who trusted me--" "I--I don't know. I only know that I can't forgive what has happened--in a minute--" "What was that last?" "Nothing." "You said in a minute." "Your ears are deceiving you." "Cynthia--you're not going to punish me because I was faithful-- Don't you suppose I tried to get some one in my place?" "Did you?" "The day I first rode in this car with you. And then--I stopped trying--" "Why?" "Because I realized that if some one came in my place I'd have to go away and never see you again--and I couldn't do that I had to be near you, dear girl--don't worry, he can't hear, the motor's too noisy--I had to be where I could see that little curl making a question mark round your ear--where I could hear your voice--I had to be near you even if to do it I must break my heart by marrying you to another man. I loved you. I love you now--" A terrific crash interrupted. Dolefully the chauffeur descended from the car to make an examination. Dolefully he announced the result. "Busted right off," he remarked. "Say, I'm sorry. I'll have to walk back to the garage at Sunbeam and--and I'm afraid you'll have to jest sit here until I come back." He went slowly down the road, and the two sat in that ancient car in the midst of sandy desolation. "Cynthia," Minot cried. "I worship you. Won't you--" The girl gave a strange little cry. "I wanted to be cross with you a little longer," she said almost tearfully. "But I can't. I wonder why I can't. I cried all night at the thought of never seeing you again. I wonder why I cried. I guess--it's because--for the first time--I'm really--in love." "Cynthia!" "Oh, Dick--don't let me change my mind again--ever--ever!" "Only over my dead body!"