292 GARRYOWEN 



more sixpences and let Giveen loose. It was now 

 getting on for five, and the dusk was closing in. 

 I rushed to the car, got her out of the shed, and 

 started off on the London road. You see, I knew 

 he hadn't taken the Southend road, or I'd have 

 met him, and there was nowhere else for him to go 

 unless he'd taken to the marshes or gone into the sea. 



" I turned the car so sharp from the by road 

 into the London road that I nearly upset her, and 

 then I let her loose. I had a chapter of accidents, 

 for my hat blew off and I had to stop and get it. 

 Three children were making mud pies in the middle 

 of the way right before a cottage, and I as nearty 

 as possible made hash of them; a fellow left the 

 cottage and chivied me half-a-mile, and took a 

 short cut where the road bent like a hairpin, and 

 as nearly as possible nailed me. He wanted to 

 get my number, I suppose — but he didn't. Then 

 I remembered that I ought to have my lamps Ht ; 

 it was getting on for an hour after sundown, and 

 those poHce on the country roads don't mind 

 swearing to ten minutes. I wouldn't have minded 

 if it had been an ordinary affair, but it wasn't by 

 any means, and I didn't want to be summonsed, 

 or else I couldn't swear an alibi if Giveen took an 

 action against me for kidnapping him. So I 

 stopped the car and got down and lit the lamps." 



Mr Dashwood paused. 



" Yes? " said his Hsteners. 



" Only for that piece of confounded foolish 

 carefulness I'd have collared Giveen." 



