hook.

"Hello! Colonel Jolson, I'm very glad I caught you. This is Mrs.
Cortlandt. Colonel Jolson, young Ramon Alfarez has arrested Kirk
Anthony, of whom I spoke to you. They have maltreated him, as
usual, and have hidden him for three days. Yes, yes! I discovered
it quite by accident while Mr. Cortlandt was down-town. Oh, this
is serious, and I'm furious. ... That will do no good; I have
reasons for preferring to handle it myself. ... Thank you for the
compliment. We must go to Colon at once, and I thought you might
give us a special." There was a slight pause, then: "Good! That
will do quite as well. In fifteen minutes. Thank you. Good-bye."

Turning to her husband, she explained, swiftly: "The Colonel's
automobile will be waiting at the station in fifteen minutes. Are
you ready?"

"I think you are going about this in the wrong way," he said,
coldly. "When will you learn--?" She checked her crisp words at
the flush that leaped to his cheeks. "I beg your pardon, Stephen.
Please do as Colonel Jolson has done and trust me to manage this
affair."

He bowed and left her, saying, "I will have a coach waiting at the
door."

Fifteen minutes later a gasoline railroad motor-car with two
passengers in addition to its driver and flagman rolled out of the
yards at Panama City and took the main line, running under orders
like a special train. As it clanked over the switches with ever-