“No, señor. She said I was to say nothing of her being there for the paper, and I was waiting for her father to come. But she informed me Mr. Martinez and you knew she was there, so I’ve told you.”
“And you saw nothing of this man who cast the blanket over her head and seized her?”
“It was dark; we had just come out of the office. But––but the car sounded like Ed Sorenson’s. I’ve heard it start from here many times with the same loud noise. They had quarreled, Señor Weir, and were no longer engaged.”
“I know. Which way did he drive off?”
“East, down the lower end of the street.”
“Bring a lamp out to my car, so I can fix my tire.”
With the girl holding the light by his side the engineer worked with concentrated energy in stripping the wheel, in inserting a new tube, replacing the tire and pumping it up. The thin drizzle glistened on his face, but for all that it was none the less determined, stern.
“You need not be afraid for yourself; no one but us knows you were there,” he said to her, climbing into his 161 machine. “Nor for Miss Janet, either. I’ll bring her home safely. When Dr. Hosmer returns, tell him everything. Also ask him to await our coming. Be sure and say to him that I’ll bring her home unharmed and that I advise silence in regard to the matter until I have talked with him. You will remain quiet, of course. This isn’t a thing to be gossiped about.”
“No, señor.”
Away the automobile shot under the impulsion of the gas. Minutes, golden minutes, had been wasted in taking up the pursuit because of his going to Martinez’ office and because of the flat tire. Sorenson now would be miles away with his prisoner.