Never for a moment glancing aside, Rita pressed on as quickly as she
could. Then her vague alarm became actual terror. She heard the brakes
being applied to the car, and heard the gritty sound of the tires upon
the roadway as the vehicle's headlong progress was suddenly checked.
She had been seen--perhaps recognized, and whoever was in the car
proposed to return to speak to her.
If her strength had allowed she would have run, but now it threatened
to desert her altogether and she tottered weakly. A pattering of
footsteps came from behind. Someone was running back to overtake her.
Recognizing escape to be impossible, Rita turned just as the runner
came up with her.
"Rita!" he cried, rather breathlessly. "Miss Dresden!"
She stood very still, looking at the speaker.
It was Monte Irvin.
CHAPTER XV
METAMORPHOSIS
As Irvin seized her hands and looked at her eagerly, half-fearfully,
Rita achieved sufficient composure to speak.
"Oh, Mr. Irvin," she said, and found that her voice was not entirely
normal, "what must you think--"
He continued to hold her hands, and:
"I think you are very indiscreet to be out alone at three o'clock in
the morning," he answered gently. "I was recalled to London by urgent
business, and returned by road--fortunately, since I have met you.
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