"0h, daddy, daddy!" she cried, "don't let them killhim."

The crowd melted away from the immediate vicinityof the prisoners. None seemed anxious to appear in theforefront as a possible leader of a mob that had sonearly lynched the only daughter of Jonas Prim. Bur-ton slipped the noose from about the girl's neck andthen turned toward her companion. In the light fromthe automobile lamps the man's face was distinctly visi-ble to the detective for the first time that night, and asBurton looked upon it he stepped back with an ex-clamation of surprise.

"You?" he almost shouted. "Gad, man! where haveyou been? Your father's spent twenty thousand dollarstrying to find you."

Bridge shook his head. "I'm sorry, Dick," he exclaimed,"but I'm afraid it's too late. The open road's gottwelve intomy blood, and there's only one thing that--well--" heshook his head and smiled ruefully--"but there ain't achance." His eyes travelled to the slim figure sitting sostraight in the rear seat of Jonas Prim's car.