Part 39 (2/2)

Hurrying across the sidewalk, Marian permitted P Sybarite to help her into the vehicle

Transported by this proof of her graciousness, he gave the chauffeur the address:

”Hotel Plaza”

With the irunted without looking round

Froloved hand

”Good-night, Mr Sybarite To-ers, P Sybarite raised his hat; but before he could utter the response ready upon his tongue, he was seized by the ar rudely away from the door At the same time a voice (the property of the owner of that uncerehly:

”Shut that door and send the car along! I'll take charge of this gentleman!”

In this speech an accent of irony inhered to exasperate P Sybarite

Half a hundred people were looking on--listening! Angrily he wrenched his arm free

”What the devil--!” he cried into the face of the aggressor; and in the act of speaking, recognised thein the lobby: that putative parvenu--hard-faced, cold-eyed,dress

The hand whose grasp he had broken shi+fted to his shoulder, closing fingers like steel hooks upon it

”If you need a row,” the ood sense--coht have you--?” P Sybarite de breath

”I' his eyes with an inexorable glare And the rasp upon the littleto have a quiet little talk in the office,” he added with a jerk of his head

A sidelong glance discovered the fact that Marian's car had disappeared Doubtless she had gone in ignorance of this outrage, perhaps thinking hione, and there was now nothing to be gained from an attempt to bluster the detective down, but deeper shame and the scorn of all beholders

”What do you want?” the little man asked in a more pacific tone

”We can talk better inside, unless”--the detective grinned sardonically--”you want to get out hand-bills about this o, then,” said P Sybarite ”I'll follow you”

”You've got a better guess than that: you'll go ahead ofit, reot a handy little eency ration in my pocket--with my hand on the butt of it”

”Very well,” said P Sybarite, boiling with rage beneath thin ice of subh chin and a challenge in his eye for any that dared question his burning face--h ranks that receded as if to escape pollution, and so re-entered the lobby

”Straight ahead,” ad in at his side

”First door to the right of the elevators”

Shoulder to shoulder, the target for two-score grinning or surprised stares, they strode across the lobby and through the designated door

It was immediately closed; and the key, turned in the lock, was removed and pocketed by the detective