“Yes. Pay him the ten dollars—do, Mrs. Heard,” Ruth urged the chaperone.
“Very well,” said the lady. “I disapprove of such a thing, but it at least will relieve us of this man’s presence——”
“Here comes another car,” cried Tess, who was not wholly attentive to the argument.
“Now you’ll get a chance to sting another party,” snapped Neale, glaring at the constable.
But the latter made him no reply. In fact, he had suddenly changed his attitude. Instead of standing boldly before the machine, he cringed along to the tonneau door with his hand held out for the money Mrs. Heard was selecting from her bag.
“Hold on!” exclaimed Neale, suddenly. “Don’t pay that fellow too quickly. Let’s have witnesses. Here comes the car.”
“You pay me now, or ’twill be too late,” cried the constable, angrily.
Just then the coming car appeared around the curve—a heavy roadster. The plainly frightened constable gave the single occupant of the car one glance, and instantly turned without the money and ran.
“Hi! stop that fellow!” shouted the man in the car.
“With all my heart,” responded Neale O’Neil, joyfully, and, scrambling out of his seat, he gave chase to the lanky man.