The Motor Pirate

orrest, sententiously "is even mo

eet to the City," I remarked; "in which case one w

he was smoking one of my best cigars with every sign of active enjoyment; he sipped his glass

es, members of the same gang, but selecting different parts of the country upon which to prey. The telegraph will soon settle these points for us. When next he makes his appearance we shall be able to keep watch upon him, to note, if no

ve left many behind him

et there are certainly grounds for believing that he has gone to earth somewhere in this neighbourho

say that you still

quite unknown to you, the Motor Pirate may very well be your near neighbour. I suppo

ng's voice and the Motor Pirate's. But the notion was so absurd I w

district until I hear something further," he declared, as he

ering coming up the path through

ay be able to give you some more details of the Pirate. He has seen him, and as he has been a lon

rist?"

He is the man I told you about, whom

night's, Mr. Sutgrove," he advised. "If you were ten years older-my age, you know-you wouldn't n

for at that momen

tland asked me to call, for after seeing you in such bad company this morning-- Hullo! I beg you

d Mannering acknowledged

ate enough to have been the object of our local constabulary's mi

ring. "First time I ever heard of a man being run in

inspector. I saw that as he spoke he was taking note of Mannering in

quite unconscious of hi

tion of knowing that you are not the only victim of police enterprise. I see from the papers quite half a dozen motor pi

that I have a sort of presentiment that when his captu

tor?" he answered. "Are you goin

er of assistance in running d

ately, "that I will not rest unti

swered Mannering. "I should judg

take all risks to come to

dred miles an hour, have you?"

ly propose to go out for night r

nswered. "But, judging from your experience this morning, the

, perhaps you could tell Inspector Forrest whether there's any spot in t

ock next to my cottage. It has a door opening on to the main road. There would be room,

said, "the inspect

," he said, and then for a few minutes he answered the question

thanked Mannering and rose to depart. I accompanied him to the garden gate. He appeared a little loth to le

urs-taking night rides on th

said an

disposal," he continued earnestly; "

would be good to have his companionship and

that the best car money can buy is plac

. "I'll see what my chief says," he

at eight and returning we

ithout another word or backward glance he

manner rather cool, but the fact was, that try as I would to curb my feelings, I could not but resent s

imes I thought of breaking the appointment, for I knew I should have to give some explanation of my arrest, and how to do so without appearing an egregious a

. So it happened that when she questioned me as to how I managed to get into such a predicament, I told her as clearly as I could of the state of my feelings. It was a blundering, halting statement I made, of that I am certain, and before I had completed it Colonel Mait

hts for my erratic movements. I am afraid, though, his teaching was wasted on me; for while I managed to reply to his conversation, I had not the slightest idea what I was eating. My principal longing was to get the mea

which was low enough not to reach her father's

d her face flushed a littl

else?" I asked, my

ve you to ask?

ask it of your m

cheeks and a soft whispered "No o

gained it. He even expressed the hope that I should succeed, but he warned me at the same time that I m

ake her a good husband, I'm not sure whether she would not consider it a sufficient excuse to accept Mannering straight away. Personally I

one again that evening. Winter and his wife had walked over. Mannering did not put in an appearance, and his

e is no one else. Is t

eaning. She looked at me saucily, her lips pa

ght the Motor Pirate," she said, and wi

he attention of the whole of the police throughout the land. I welcomed the task. Luck might be on

ore my mind was at ease. I found him awaiting me at my garden gate

as keen on this job as you were this afte

n ever," I

e may be successful in ru

thing further?" I i

mber of people have been through our

et a clue in the mo

Of course at any moment information may come to hand. He may endeavour

ou suggest

lore this district until I hear

btained," I told him later. "I am hoping to get one capable of doing fifty or even sixty miles an hour at a pinch, so as to

ean that, Mr. Su

e I do,"

he accepted my invitation. L