"I'm crazy about it!" she said, with a reckless laugh, slipping her hand through his proffered arm. Below, she drew back suddenly. Judge Massingale was on the sidewalk, standing by the car. He turned at once to Lindaberry, looking steadily past her. "Garry, this is sheer madness! You have no right to do what you're doing! Miss Baxter does not know what she is getting into!" Lindaberry's only answer was a boyish laugh, and a hand to Doré, who sprang to her seat. "Risk your own life. If you'll go alone, I'll take up your bet!" "Listen to him, Miss Baxter!" said Lindaberry, with an airy wave of his hand. "Why, upon my honor, I'm the safest driver in New York!" Massingale gave a groan of despair. "Besides, if you're arrested and brought into court, Garry, Miss Baxter's name will be dragged--" "I won't be nabbed. And, if I am, Judge, I'll telephone for you! Besides, there isn't a cop in the place that doesn't love me like a brother. Ask Mulligan, here!" The patrolman on the beat, who had lazily sauntered up at his colloquy, grinned and shook his head. "Why, every time I get in a scrap with one of them," continued Lindaberry joyously, "I send the kids to college! They'd break my head open the first chance they got, but beyond that they wouldn't harm a hair. Eh, Mulligan?" "Sure! That's right!" Lindaberry, ready to take the wheel, bent over. "I say, Mulligan, is De Lima on deck to-night?" Mulligan gazed anxiously in the direction of Judge Massingale, who was standing helplessly by. "Oh, the judge is a good sport!" said Lindaberry. "Well, where's De Lima?" "Above Ninety-sixth, I believe, sorr!" "Good! I'll keep an eye out. De Lima's expensive! Well, Judge, too bad you can't join us. Little bet? Now, don't worry! I'll promise nothing faster than a mile a minute until we strike the country!" They were drawn up in the electric flare of the side entrance. Quite a group of staring white-aproned waiters, impudent newsboys, appearing like bats out of the hidden night, chauffeurs and curious creatures of the underworld hung around open-mouthed, very black and very white in the artificial region of light and shadow. Massingale turned suddenly to her, forced to his last appeal. "Miss Baxter," he said, looking up directly, "I wouldn't insist if I didn't know the chances you are running with this madman! Believe me, it is a reckless thing to do! Miss Baxter, please don't go!" "Please?" she repeated, looking into his eyes with a glance as cold as his own was excited. "Yes! I ask you--I beg you not to go! You don't know--you don't understand. Mr. Lindaberry is not a safe person--now, under present conditions!" She leaned a little toward him, modulating her voice for his ear alone. "I'm sure, Judge Massingale," she said coldly "that I will be much safer with Mr. Lindaberry, wherever he wishes to take me, than with some other man, even in my own house, alone!"