“Who’s Tim?” asked Lucile.
“Don’t you wish you knew?” taunted Cordie. “If only you were going to ask your questions of me you’d be sure to find out.”
“Don’t worry,” smiled Laurie. “I’ve just decided that you shall be the person to answer my three questions.”
“You horrid thing! I shan’t go! I’m off your old party!” In mock anger, she sprang away from her companions and went racing on ahead of them.
Then strange and startling things began to happen. A long, low-built blue roadster, which had been creeping along the curb as if looking for someone, came to a grinding stop. A man leaped out. A second later a piercing scream reached the ears of Laurie and Lucile.
“It’s Cordie!” exclaimed Lucile. “Some—something terrible! C’mon!”
As she said this a gray streak shot past her. Even in this wild moment of excitement, she recognized the man who had been dogging their footsteps and she wondered why she had not recognized him sooner.
The next second they were in the midst of things. With wildly beating heart Lucile stared at the panorama that was enacted before her. Powerless to aid, she saw Cordie, the innocent country girl, the center of a battle, snatched from hand to hand until it seemed the very life must be torn from her.
First she caught a glimpse of her fighting frantically but vainly in the grasp of a man. Lucile recognized him instantly.
“The hawk-eyed man!” she whispered. “The one who claimed to be her brother! Quick!” she exclaimed, gripping Laurie’s arm until her fingers cut into the very flesh. “Quick! They’re taking her to the auto. They’ll carry her away!”