The Toff and the Kidnapped Child Read Free Page B

away her father was. But the man was opening the door of the car and the girl helped her towards it. It did not occur to her that they were very anxious to make sure that she got in.
    â€œJust a minute,” she said, and held back. “I must tell Miss Abbott – that’s my housemistress – that I’ll be late. I can telephone over there.”
    â€œYour father’s sent another message to the school,” the man reassured her, and gripped her elbow and seemed to thrust her forward; she felt herself climbing into the car almost against her will, although the answer had come pat, and if it were true there was no need to worry.
    She sank down on a cushiony seat, and the blonde got in beside her. The man went to the wheel, moving very quickly, as if this were really a matter of urgency. Almost before she had accepted the situation, Caroline was being driven off, through the familiar streets which soon gave way to the wide country roads. A mile or so away there were crossroads where one could turn for London or for the north. She need not ask where her father was, for she would soon be able to tell which way they were going. Now disappointment because of the holidays was uppermost in her mind.
    The car swayed as it turned a corner, and she was thrown against the side; the man was driving very fast, but her father often did, and speed did not worry her at all. As she recovered, she felt a sharp prick of pain in her right forearm, making her gasp. She glanced swiftly at the blonde, and saw that she was concealing something in her right hand; something which glistened.
    In sudden panic, Caroline cried: “What’s that? What did you do to me?”
    â€œDo? I didn’t do anything.”
    â€œYes, you did.” Caroline raised her arm quickly, and on the sun-browned skin just below the elbow there was a tiny globule of blood. “You pricked me! What was it?”
    â€œDon’t be silly,” the other said, rather sharply. “I’ve a pin in my sleeve, that’s all.” Whatever she was concealing was hidden by the folds of her full dress now. “Sit back and relax.”
    Caroline sat back, but could not relax. She wiped the blood off, and it smeared a little. She thought that there was a numb sensation around the spot, but told herself that it might be imagination. She pretended to look out of the window, and after a few moments she felt much more drowsy than she had. Suddenly, she darted her hand towards the folds of the blonde’s dress, took her by surprise, touched something hard, and pulled out a hypodermic syringe; she recognised it on the instant.
    â€œNo!” she cried. “You’ve injected something into me. What are you doing to me? What—”
    â€œ Keep her quiet ,” said the driver roughly, and he swung the wheel again, pressing her against the door so that she was quite helpless. That awful feeling of drowsiness was worse than ever; she felt as if she were losing consciousness, and panic swept over her.
    â€œLet me go!” she cried. “Let me go!” She struck at the blonde, who was thrusting her hands towards her, and slapped her sharply across the face. The car swung in the other direction, and for a moment Caroline was pressed close against the woman, who was helpless. “ Let me go! ” she screamed, and then snatched at the handle of the door, heedless of the fact that they were travelling at great speed.
    The handle clicked, and the door sagged open. But before it swung wide, the driver turned round and struck her violently on the side of the head, while the blonde recovered and pushed her away, slammed the door, and said: “If you don’t keep quiet, you’ll really get hurt.”
    Caroline opened her mouth to scream, although screaming would be useless on these nearly deserted country roads. She did not scream, but then, with awful suddenness, she felt unconsciousness sweeping over her, felt