that he would be caught thus; no better than a mere--

But needs must, when the devil drives; the devil was driving him now
hard. To attempt to reach the gate, to get out to Surrey Road,--little
doubt existed as to what awaited him there; so, crouching low, he forced
himself to linger a little longer where he was. As thus he remained
motionless, sharp twinges again shot through his shoulder; then, on a
sudden, he became unmindful of physical discomfort; a plan of action
that had flashed through his brain, held him oblivious to all else; it
offered only the remotest chance of escape--but still a chance, which he
weighed, determined to take! It had come to him while listening to the
merry voices within the room near him talking of the gay dinner just
ended, of the box party at the theater that was to follow.

Already cabs were at the door; the women and the men, several of the
latter flushed with wine, were ready to go. A servant walked out and
unlocked the gate and with light badinage the company issued forth. As
they did so, John Steele, unobserved, stepped forward; in the
semi-darkness the party passed through the entrance into the street.
Taking his place among the last of the laughing, dimly-seen figures,
John Steele walked boldly on and found himself a moment later on the
sidewalk of Surrey Road. He was aware that some one, a woman, had
touched his arm, as if to take it; of a light feminine voice and an
abrupt exclamation of surprise, of the quick drawing back of fluttering
skirts. But he did not stop to apologize or to explain; walking swiftly
to one of the last cabs he sprang in.

"A little errand first, driver," he called out. "To--" and mentioned a
street--"as fast as you can." His tone was sharp, authoritative; it
implied the need for instant obedience, rang like a command. The man