necklace from one of the guests at the ball and expected us to get away
with it. Also that the servants must have been in the plot, for how
else had our get away been made so easy? And how came the Glow-worm to
be standing at the door ready to drive away?

We laughed when we thought of the diamond necklace which they had
supposed was safe in our possession, lying in the jardinier in the sun
parlor. We fancied the commotion that would take place when the owner
discovered its loss, and the equal dismay in the breasts of the
conspirators when it was found in the jardinier.

But here we were again, without a place to spend the night, when we had
expected to sleep in such luxurious beds. With one accord we decided to
drive all night and put as much distance between us and the house as
possible. We were constantly afraid that we were being pursued as it
was, and strained our ears for the throb of a motor behind us that
would tell of the chase. We did not make very fast headway, for the
roads were abominable after the storm. In places we went through
regular lakes and the water was thrown into the car by the wheels, so
that we were drenched a second time, as well as spattered with mud from
head to foot. Then we came to a hold-up altogether. In one place a
small stream had risen from the flood and carried away the bridge by
which we were supposed to cross. The water was too deep to drive
through and we had to turn back and find another road. Then our
troubles began in earnest.

The main road had been bad enough, but these side roads full of deep
wagon ruts and mud holes were ten times worse. It would have been a
problem to drive through there by daylight, but after dark it was a
nightmare. Our electric head lamps were dim that night for some reason