"Oh, so you won't sit beside me?" he asked as he started the car. "What makes you dislike me so, Cora? You and I used to pull a pretty good stroke, but lately you simply won't look at me." "I don't dislike you. At least, I did not until this morning." "Still angry," he taunted. "Now, I call that mean. Why do you go off riding with a common mechanic?" "Mr. Hastings is a gentleman!" she flared back at him, like an explosion of one of the cylinders of her car. "He would never dream of acting as you are now, even if he is a common mechanic." "No?" His tone was tantalizing. "Please turn this corner," she said icily. "I want to get back to the bank building." "Oh, do you? Well, I'm in no hurry to. I can't seem to do any business there, or in the automobile place," and he flashed a meaning look at the girl. "Now we'll see, Miss Cora, who's going to have their own way. I'm driving this car." He threw in the second speed gear, and the auto dashed forward through the city streets. Had he suddenly gone mad? What was his object? He was heading for the turnpike road! For a few moments Cora held her breath. Should she shout for help, no matter what happened? Then the fact of her unfortunate entanglement with the missing money came to her mind. Should she deliberately place herself in the position of another entanglement? Sid Wilcox bent lower over the steering wheel and turned on more power. "Paul Hastings rode out with you," he called over his shoulder to Cora, "and I'm going to ride back with you. Nothing like having a variety and being a popular young lady." He was positively insulting. "You are running away with my car!" exclaimed Cora, stung to desperation. "I shall have you arrested!" "Oh, no, you won't!" he sneered. "That would not be at all pleasant--for you!" "Why do you say that?" "Why? Because you might have to explain how that pocketbook got into your car. I heard last night that they were going to have another investigation on new lines." "How dare you!" she cried. "But that has nothing to do with this. If you do not stop my car at once I shall call for help!" "I dare you to!" Did he know that she would not? "Now, Cora, Cora," he simpered. "You must not do anything rash. Better let me have my little ride with you, and incidentally get ahead of my conceited rival, Paul Hastings. He may ride back in the car he is to drive across country, for he has probably done me out of that place. It will be a good chance for him to practice." Sid's audacity was positively startling. Perhaps it would be best to let him have his own way. In fact, how could she help herself? He had the wheel, and was going at a fast rate of speed. She could not climb over to a front seat from the tonneau. If she should shout, who would hear her above the noise of the car? For Sid in mere spitefulness had cut out the muffler.