"Oh, yes--can't get along without one over here," replied Carver.
"Then hop it instantly, and ride for your life to that club. If Parkins hasn't arrived--thank God!--you stop him before he gets there, and save a great scandal that would ruin the girl. She is as pure as snow, and is betrothed to the best friend I have on earth. Help me out, boy! Get that man Parkins--serve a 'John Doe' warrant on him and take him to the home of Drury Villard at Dreamy Hollow. It's a big black limousine, two men in front, and Parkins, with a woman accomplice, inside. The chauffeur is McGonigle's man, but the other fellow is my man. He may need help--he might be killed--but you save the day from scandal."
"I'll do my best, old-timer. What you have told me makes me see red. I may shoot the skunk," said he in a rasping voice. "If it was a Riverhead case, we'd tar and feather him."
"Go like the wind, George--and don't fail," replied Updyke, a husky tone in his deep voice.
When George Carver swung into the Jamesport road a cloud of dust trailed behind him until he stopped in front of the clubhouse. Parkins had not arrived, so everything was safe thus far. Turning back along the road he traveled leisurely and muffled the "cut-out."
Updyke had figured matters out almost to a nicety. Two miles west of Jamesport a limousine hove in view.
The car was coming fast, head-on for passage against all-comers. But Carver was an old hand at stopping speeders.
He jumped from his machine and laid it crosswise of the narrow road. Then with his feet on the wheel and his revolver pointed straight at the oncoming chauffeur, he shouted:
"Halt! or I'll kill you!"--and at once the emergency was applied to the brakes of the big machine, causing thereby a most gruesome noise.
[Illustration: "HALT! OR I'LL KILL YOU!"]
"Hands up, chauffeur! Step off of your car--lie down on the roadside--belly to the ground!"
To the Updyke man he said--"If he makes a move kill him!"
Parkins, not yet discovered by either officer, had dropped to the floor and pulled a dust robe over his body. Carver tried to open the door, but it was locked from inside. The door on the other side was also bolted from within.
"All right, Parkins, you are going to have the merriest little test put up to you that a rascal of your stamp could conceive of in a life time!" shouted Carver. "At this moment you and your accomplice are shielding yourselves at the expense of a frail girl. She need have no fear--you infernal coward! But unless you and that woman come out instantly, I'll break in the doors and hang both of you up by the thumbs. I am counting ten--one--two--three--four--five--get ready, 'Updyke man'--six----"