"I thought that might suit you. Well, stick to main-traveled roads and don't take any chances. If you get into trouble, yell bloody murder poco pronto."
"And don't you take any, old-timer. That goes double. I'm the cautious guy in this outfit, not you."
Within twenty-four hours Clay heard some one pounding wildly on the outer door of the apartment and the voice of the cautious guy imploring haste.
"Lemme in, Clay. Hurry! Hurry!" he shouted.
Lindsay was at the door in four strides, but he did not need to see the stricken woe of his friend's face to guess what had occurred. For Johnnie and Kitty had started together to see a picture play two hours earlier.
"They done took Kitty—in an auto," he gasped. "Right before my eyes.
Claimed a lady had fainted."
"Who took her?"
"I dunno. Some men. Turned the trick slick, me never liftin' a hand.
Ain't I a heluva man?"
"Hold yore hawsses, son. Don't get excited. Begin at the beginnin' and tell me all about it," Clay told him quietly.
Already he was kicking off his house slippers and was reaching for his shoes.