Since he was forced to play the unwelcome part, Greg played it as well as he could. "Well, after I filled up my tank," he said slyly, "I went on to the address you gave me. Something seemed to be the matter, and I thought maybe you'd want me again. You treated me liberal. Then the young lady came running out. I didn't know she had anything to do with you. She said she'd pay me anything I asked if I'd get her away from there. I thought she was in distress-like." Greg was comforted by the sight of a gleam of approval in Amy's eyes. Whether or not de Socotra really believed this yarn he could not tell from his face. He feigned to believe it. "Too much melodrama!" he said indulgently. "Let him go, officer." But the policeman hated to relinquish his capture. "Why didn't you stop when I first told you?" he demanded. Greg put on a hang-dog air. "Ah, she said he was after her, that he wanted to do her some hurt." "Her own father!" put in de Socotra with a shocked air. "You saw me!" said the indignant officer. "You ought to know I wouldn't stand for no rough stuff!" "Well, I was excited-like," muttered Greg. "I had ought to take you in for speeding if for nothing else! You ought to lose your license for that!" "Please let him go, officer," said de Socotra magnanimously. "The poor fellow's livelihood depends on his license. I wouldn't want him to suffer through the misfortune of my poor girl." Greg did not believe that de Socotra's suspicions were not aroused as to his real part in the affair; but de Socotra was not any more anxious for a police-court examination than Greg was: hence the seeming magnanimity. Greg saw a glance of intelligence pass between de Socotra and Abanez, and as the policeman very reluctantly removed his hand from Greg's shoulder, Abanez said: "You may take me and my friend down-town. We are already late for our appointment." Amy flashed him a warning. Greg scarcely needed it. For a moment he hesitated; but since he had taken his line, it seemed better to stick to it. He determined to watch himself though. He touched his cap. "Where to, sir?" "92 Stuyvesant Square." Greg was reminded of Pa Simmons' first report that day. Meanwhile de Socotra and his two henchmen bade each other courteous farewells. Abanez and the other expressed a fervent hope that the young lady would be better in the morning--Greg smiled to himself at the grim comedy. The two Spanish-Americans got into the flivver, and de Socotra handed Amy into the other taxi. The policeman seated himself by the chauffeur to ride back to his beat. They started simultaneously, Greg turning down-town, the other keeping on up the Drive. The bystanders remembered their suppers and melted away.