myself. Anyway," he continued, turning to me, "you have the consolation of knowing that you are not the only victim of police enterprise. I see from the papers quite half a dozen motor pirates have been run in. They may have the real one amongst them; but as his car has so far escaped capture, I doubt it."

   "So do I," I remarked. "And for the additional reason that I have a sort of presentiment that when his capture is brought about, I am going to have a hand in it."

   "What do you say to that, Inspector?" he answered. "Are you going to leave the job to amateurs?"

   "I never said 'no' to the offer of assistance in running down a criminal," was the reply.

   "I have sworn," I remarked obstinately, "that I will not rest until he is safe under lock and key."

   "You had better be prepared," answered Mannering. "I should judge him to be a bit of a fighter."

   "Next time I meet him, I'll take all risks to come to close quarters," I continued.

   "You haven't a car to do a hundred miles an hour, have you?" he said in a bantering voice.

   "My plan is a simple one. I merely propose to go out for night rides until he finds me," I said.

   "I had some thoughts of amusing myself in the same way," he answered. "But, judging from your experience this morning, the only thing likely to happen is being arrested on suspicion."

   "I'll take my chance of that," I said. "But before discussing the matter, perhaps you could tell Inspector Forrest whether there's any spot in this neighbourhood likely to serve as a hiding-place for the Pirate's car?"

   A smile lit up Mannering's face. "There's the old coach-house at the bottom of the paddock next to my cottage. It has a door opening on to the main road. There would be room, too, in my stables, if I had not fitted them up as workshops for my tyre experiments."

   "Stop rotting," I said, "the inspector really means it."

   He became grave instantly. "Sorry I can't suggest a likely spot," he said, and then for a few minutes he answered the questions the detective put to him as to what he had seen of the Pirate.

   He could give little information of any value, and when Inspector Forrest had 

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