第9章
TheInspectorregardedthespeakersearchingly。Hisheavyfacewasdrawninanexpressionofapparentdoubt。Abruptly，then，hesmiledacquiescence。
"Seemsreasonable，"headmitted。
Butthefatherstrodetohisson。
"No，no，Dick，"hecried。"Youshallnotgo!Youshallnotgo!"
Burke，however，shookhisheadinremonstranceagainstGilder"splea。Hishugevoicecamebooming，weightilyimpressive。
"Whynot？"hequestioned。"It"safairgamble。And，besides，I
liketheboy"snerve。"
Dickseizedontheadmissioneagerly。
"Andyou"llagree？"hecried。
"Yes，I"llagree，"theInspectoranswered。
"Thankyou，"Dicksaidquietly。
Butthefatherwasnotcontent。Onthecontrary，hewenttowardthetwohurriedly，withagestureofreproval。
"Youshallnotgo，Dick，"hedeclared，imperiously。
TheInspectorshotawordofwarningtoGilderinanasidethatDickcouldnothear。
"Keepstill，"hereplied。"It"sallright。"
Dickwentonspeakingwithaseriousnesssuitedtothemagnitudeofhisinterests。
"Yougivemeyourword，Inspector，"hesaid，"thatyouwon"tnotifythepoliceinChicagountilI"vebeentheretwenty-fourhours？"
"You"reon，"Burkerepliedgenially。"Theywon"tgetawhisperoutofmeuntilthetimeisup。"Heswungabouttofacethefather，andtherewasacompletechangeinhismanner。"Now，then，Mr。Gilder，"hesaidbriskly，"Iwanttotalktoyouaboutanotherlittlematter——"
Dickcaughtthesuggestion，andinterruptedquickly。
"ThenI"llgo。"Hesmiledratherwanlyathisfather。"Youknow，Dad，I"msorry，butI"vegottodowhatIthinkistherightthing。"
Burkehelpedtosavethesituationfromthegrowingtenseness。
"Sure，"hecriedheartily；"sureyouhave。That"sthebestanyofuscando。"Hewatchedkeenlyastheyoungmanwentoutoftheroom。ItwasnotuntilthedoorwasclosedafterDickthathespoke。Thenhedroppedtoaseatonthecouch，andproceededtomakehisconfidencestothemagnate。
"He"llgotoChicagointhemorning，youthink，don"tyou？"
"Certainly，"Gilderanswered。"ButIdon"tlikeit。"
Burkeslappedhislegwithanenthusiasmthatmighthavebrokenaweakermember。
"Bestthingthatcouldhavehappened!"hevociferated。Andthen，asGilderregardedhiminastonishment，headded，chuckling:"Yousee，hewon"tfindherthere。"
"Whydoyouthinkthat？"Gilderdemanded，greatlypuzzled。
Burkepermittedhimselftheluxuryoflaughingappreciativelyamomentmorebeforemakinghisexclamation。Thenhesaidquietly:
"Becauseshedidn"tgothere。"
"Wheredidshego，then？"Gilderqueriedwhollyataloss。
Onceagaintheofficerchuckled。Itwasevidentthathewaswellpleasedwithhisowningenuity。
"Nowhereyet，"hesaidatlast。"But，justaboutthetimehe"sstartingfortheWestI"llhaveherdownatHeadquarters。
Demarestwillhaveherindictedbeforenoon。She"llgofortrialintheafternoon。Andto-morrownightshe"llbesleepinguptheriver……That"swheresheisgoing。"
Gilderstoodmotionlessforamoment。Afterall，hewasanordinarycitizen，quiteunfamiliarwiththereconditemethodsfamiliartothepolice。
"But，"hesaid，wonderingly，"youcan"tdothat。"
TheInspectorlaughed，alaughofdisingenuousamusement，forheunderstoodperfectlythelackofcomprehensiononthepartofhishearer。
"Well，"hesaid，andhisvoicesankintoamodestrumblethatwasnonethelessstillthunderous。"PerhapsIcan"t!"Andthenhebeamedbroadly，hiswholefacesmilingblandlyonthemanwhodoubtedhispower。"PerhapsIcan"t，"herepeated。Thenthechucklecameagain，andheaddedemphatically:"ButIwill!"
Suddenly，hisheavyfacegrewhard。Hisalerteyesshonefiercely，withaflashoffirethatwasknowntoeverypatrolmanwhohadeverreportedtothedeskwhenhewaslieutenant。Hisheavyjawshotforwardaggressivelyashespoke。
"ThinkI"mgoingtoletthatgirlmakeajokeofthePoliceDepartment？Why，I"mheretogether——tostopheranyhow。Hergangisgoingtobreakintoyourhouseto-night。"
"What？"Gilderdemanded。"Youmean，she"scominghereasathief？"
"Notexactly，"InspectorBurkeconfessed，"butherpalsarecomingtotrytopulloffsomethingrighthere。Shewouldn"tcome，notifIknowher。She"stoocleverforthat。Why，ifsheknewwhatGarsonwasplanningtodo，she"dstophim。"
TheInspectorpausedsuddenly。Foralongminutehisfacewasseamedwiththought。Then，hesmotehisthighwithablowstrongenoughtokillanox。Hisfacewasradiant。
"ByGod!I"vegother!"hecried。Theinspirationforwhichhehadlongedwashisatlast。Hewenttothedeskwherethetelephonewas，andtookupthereceiver。
"Giveme3100Spring，"hesaid。AshewaitedfortheconnectionhesmiledwidelyontheastonishedGilder。""Tain"ttoolate，"
hesaidjoyously。"Imusthavebeenlosingmymindnottohavethoughtofitbefore。"Theimpactofsoundsonhisearfromthereceiversethimtoattention。
"Headquarters？"hecalled。"InspectorBurkespeaking。Who"sinmyoffice？Iwanthimquick。"Hesmiledashelistened，andhespokeagaintoGilder。"It"sSmith，thebestmanIhave。That"sluck，ifyouaskme。"Thenagainhespokeintothemouthpieceofthetelephone。
"Oh，Ed，sendsomeoneuptothatTurnerwoman。Youhavetheaddress。Justseethatsheistippedoff，thatJoeGarsonandsomepalsaregoingtobreakintoEdwardGilder"shouseto-night。
Getsomestool-pigeontohandhertheinformation。You"dbettergettoworkdamnedquick。Understand？"
TheInspectorpulledoutthatwatchofwhichAggieLynchhadspokensoavariciously，andglancedatit，thenwentonspeaking:
"It"sten-thirtynow。ShewenttotheLyricTheaterwithsomewoman。Getherassheleaves，orfindherbackatherownplacelater。You"llhavetohustle，anyhow。That"sall!"
TheInspectorhungupthereceiverandfacedhishostwithacontentedsmile。
"Whatgoodwillallthatdo？"Gilderdemanded，impatiently。
Burkeexplainedwithasatisfactionnaturaltoonewhohaddevisedsomethingingeniousandadequate。Thisinspirationfilledhimwithdelight。AtlasthewassureofcatchingMaryTurnerherselfinhistoils。
"She"llcometostop"em，"hesaid。"Whenwegettherestofthegang，we"llgrabher，too。Why，Ialmostforgother，thinkingaboutGarson。Mr。Gilder，youwouldhardlybelieveit，butthere"sscarcelybeenarealbitofforgeryworthwhiledoneinthiscountryforthelasttwentyyears，thatGarsonhasn"tbeenmixedupin。We"veneveroncegothimrightinallthattime。"
TheInspectorpausedtochuckle。"Crooksarefunny，"heexplainedwithobviouscontentment。"Cleverasheis，GarsonletGriggstalkhimintoasecond-storyjob，andnowwe"llgethimwiththegoods……Justcallyourmanforaminute，willyou，Mr。
Gilder？"
Gilderpressedtheelectricbuttononhisdesk。Atthesamemoment，throughtheoctagonalwindowcameablindingflashoflightthatrestedforseconds，thenvanished。Burke，bynomeansanervousman，neverthelesswasstartledbythemysteriousradiance。
"What"sthat？"hedemanded，sharply。
"It"stheflashlightfromtheMetropolitanTower，"Gilderexplainedwithasmileoverthepoliceman"sperturbation。"Itswingsaroundthiswayabouteveryfifteenminutes。Theservantforgottodrawthecurtains。"Ashespoke，hewenttothewindow，andpulledtheheavydraperiesclose。"Itwon"tbotherusagain。"
TheentranceofthebutlerbroughttheInspector"sthoughtsbacktothematterinhand。
"Myman，"hesaid，authoritatively，"Iwantyoutogouptotheroofandopenthescuttle。You"llfindsomemenwaitingupthere。Bring"emdownhere。"
Theservant"susuallyimpassivefaceshowedastonishment，notunmixedwithdismay，andhelookeddoubtfullytowardhismaster，whonoddedreassuringly。
"Oh，theywon"thurtyou，"theInspectordeclared，ashenoticedtheman"shesitation。"They"repoliceofficers。Youget"emdownhere，andthenyougotobedandstaytheretillmorning。
Understand？"
Again，thebutlerlookedathismasterforguidanceinthisverypeculiaraffair，ashedeemedit。Receivinganothernod，hesaid:
"Verywell，sir。"HeregardedtheInspectorwithacertainhelplessindignationoverthisdisturbanceofthenaturalorder，andlefttheroom。
Gilderhimselfwaspuzzledoverthesituation，whichwasbynomeanscleartohim。
"Howdoyouknowthey"regoingtobreakintothehouseto-night？"
hedemandedofBurke；"ordoyouonlythinkthey"regoingtobreakintothehouse？"
"Iknowtheyare。"TheInspector"sharshvoicebroughtoutthewordsboastfully。"Ifixedit。"
"Youdid!"Therewaswonderinthemagnate"sexclamation。
"Sure，"Burkedeclaredcomplacently，"diditthroughastool-pigeon。"
"Oh，aninformer，"Gilderinterrupted，alittledoubtfully。
"Yes，"Burkeagreed。"Stool-pigeonisthepolicenameforhim。
Really，he"sthevilestthingthatcrawls。"
"But，ifyouthinkthat，"Gilderexpostulated，"whydoyouhaveanythingtodowiththatsortofperson？"
"Becauseit"sgoodbusiness，"theInspectorreplied。"Weknowhe"saspyandatraitor，andthateverytimehecomesnearusweoughttouseadisinfectant。Butwedealwithhimjustthesame——becausewehaveto。Now，thestool-pigeoninthistrickisaswellEnglishcrook。HewenttoGarsonyesterdaywithaschemetorobyourhouse。HetriedoutMaryTurner，too，butshewouldn"tstandforit——saiditwouldbreakthelaw，whichiscontrarytoherprinciples。ShetoldGarsontoleaveitalone。
ButhemetGriggsafterwardwithoutherknowinganythingaboutit，andthenheagreedtopullitoff。Griggsgotwordtomethatit"scomingoffto-night。Andso，yousee，Mr。Gilder，that"showIknow。Doyougetme？"
"Isee，"Gilderadmittedwithoutanyenthusiasm。Asamatteroffact，hefeltsomewhatoffendedthathishouseshouldbethussummarilyseizedasatrapforcriminals。
"Butwhydoyouhaveyourmencomedownovertheroof？"heinquiredcuriously。
"Itwasn"tsafetobringtheminthefrontway，"wastheInspector"spromptreply。"It"sacinchthehouseisbeingwatched。Iwishyouwouldletmehaveyourlatch-key。Iwanttocomeback，andmakethiscollarmyself。"
TheownerofthehouseobedientlytookthedesiredkeyfromhisringandgaveittotheInspectorwithashrugofresignation。
"But，whynotstay，nowthatyouarehere？"heasked。
"Huh!"Burkeretorted。"Supposesomeofthemsawmecomein？
Therewouldn"tbeanythingdoinguntilaftertheyseemegooutagain。"
Thehalldooropenedandthebutlerreenteredtheroom。BehindhimcameCassidyandtwootherdetectivesinplainclothes。Atawordfromhismaster，thedisturbedThomaswithdrewwiththeintentionofobeyingtheInspector"sdirectionsthatheshouldretiretobedandstaythere，carefullyavoidingwhateverpossibilitiesofperiltheremightbeinthesituationsoforeigntohisidealsofpropriety。
"Now，"Burkewentonbriskly，asthedoorclosedbehindtheservant，"wherecouldthesemenstayoutofsightuntilthey"reneeded？"
Therefollowedalittlediscussionwhichendedintheselectionofastore-roomattheendofthepassageonthegroundfloor，onwhichoneofthelibrarydoorsopened。
"Yousee，"BurkeexplainedtoGilder，whenthismatterhadbeensettledtohissatisfaction，andwhileCassidyandtheotherdetectiveswereoutofthelibraryonatourofinspection，"youmusthavethingsright，whenitcomestocatchingcrooksonaframe-uplikethis。IhadthesemencometoNumberTwenty-sixontheotherstreet，thenroundtheblockontheroofs。"
Gildernoddedappreciationwhichwasnotactuallysincere。Itseemedtohimthatsuchelaboratemanoeuveringwas，intruth，ratherabsurd。
"Andnow，Mr。Gilder，"theInspectorsaidenergetically，"I"mgoingtogiveyouthesametipIgaveyourman。Gotobed，andstaythere。"
"Buttheboy，"Gilderprotested。"Whatabouthim？He"stheonethingofimportancetome。"
"IfhesaysanythingmoreaboutgoingtoChicago——justyoulethimgo，that"sall!It"sthebestplaceforhimforthenextfewdays。I"llgetintouchwithyouinthemorningandletyouknowthenhowthingsarecomingout。"
Gildersighedresignedly。Hisheavyfacewaslinedwithanxiety。
Therewasahesitationinhismannerofspeechthatwaswhollyunlikeitsusualquickdecisiveness。
"Idon"tlikethissortofthing，"hesaid，doubtfully。"IletyougoaheadbecauseIcan"tsuggestanyalternative，butIdon"tlikeit，notatall。Itseemstomethatothermethodsmightbeemployedwithexcellentresultswithouttheelementoftreacherywhichseemstoinvolvemeaswellasyouinoureffortstoovercomethiswoman。"
Burke，however，hadnoqualmsastosuchplotting。
"Youmusthavecrookedwaystocatchcrooks，believeme，"hesaidcheerfully。"It"stheeasiestandquickestwayoutofthetroubleforus，andtheeasiestandquickestwayintotroubleforthem。"
Thereturnofthedetectivescausedhimtobreakoff，andhegavehisattentiontothefinalarrangementsofhismen。
"You"reinchargehere，"hesaidtoCassidy，"andIholdyouresponsible。Now，listentothis，andgetit。"Hiscoarsevoicecamewithagratingnoteofcommand。"I"mcomingbacktogetthisbunchmyself，andI"llcallyouwhenyou"rewanted。You"llwaitinthestore-roomoutthereanddon"tmakeamovetillyouhearfromme，unlessbyanychancethingsgowrongandyougetacallfromGriggs。Youknowwhoheis。He"sgotawhistle，andhe"lluseitifnecessary……Gotthatstraight？"And，whenCassidyhaddeclaredanentireunderstandingofthedirectionsgiven，heconcludedconcisely。"Onyourway，then!"
Asthemenlefttheroom，heturnedagaintoGilder。
"Justonethingmore，"hesaid。"I"llhavetohaveyourhelpalittlelonger。AfterI"vegone，Iwantyoutostayupforahalf-houranyhow，withthelightsburning。Doyousee？IwanttobesuretogivetheTurnerwomantimetogetherewhilethatgangisatwork。Yourkeepingonthelightswillholdthemback，fortheywon"tcomeintillthehouseisdark，so，inhalfanhouryoucangetoffthejob，switchoffthelightsandgotobedandstaythere——justasItoldyoubefore。"ThenInspectorBurke，havinginmindthegreatdistressofthemanovertheunfortunateentanglementofhisson，wasatpainstoofferareassuringword。
"Don"tworryabouttheboy，"hesaid，withgravekindliness。
"We"llgethimoutofthisscrapeallright。"Andwiththeassertionhebustledout，leavingtheunhappyfathertomiserableforebodings。
CHAPTERXVII。OUTSIDETHELAW。
GilderscrupulouslyfollowedthedirectionsofthePoliceInspector。Uneasily，hehadremainedinthelibraryuntiltheallottedtimewaselapsed。Hefidgetedfromplacetoplace，hismindheavywithdistressundertheshadowthatthreatenedtoblightthelifeofhischerishedson。Finally，withasenseofreliefheputoutthelightsandwenttohischamber。Buthedidnotfollowthefurtherdirectionsgivenhim，forhewasnotmindedtogotobed。Instead，hedrewthecurtainscloselytomakesurethatnogleamoflightcouldpassthem，andthensatwithacigarbetweenhislips，whichhedidnotsmoke，thoughfromtimetotimehewasatpainstolightit。Histhoughtsweremostwithhisson，andeverashethoughtofDick，hisfurywaxedagainstthewomanwhohadenmeshedtheboyinherplottingforvengeanceonhimself。Andintohisthoughtsnowcreptadoubt，onethatalarmedhissenseofjustice。Itoccurredtohimthatthiswomancouldnothavethusnourishedaplanforretributionthroughtheyearsunless，indeed，shehadbeeninsane，evenashehadclaimed——orinnocent!Theideawasappalling。Hecouldnotbeartoadmitthepossibilityofhavingbeentheinvoluntaryinflicterofsuchwrongastosendthegirltoprisonforanoffenseshehadnotcommitted。Herejectedthesuggestion，butitpersisted。Heknewtheclean，wholesomenatureofhisson。
Itseemedtohimincrediblethattheboycouldhavethusgivenhishearttoonealtogetherundeserving。AhorriblesuspicionthathehadmisjudgedMaryTurnercreptintohisbrain，andwouldnotout。Hefoughtitwithallthestrengthofhim，andthatwasmuch，buteveritabodethere。HeturnedforcomforttothethingsBurkehadsaid。Thewomanwasacrook，andtherewasanendofit。Herruseofspoliationwithinthelawwasevidenceofhershrewdness，nothingmore。
MaryTurnerherself，too，wasinaconditionutterlywretched，andforthesamecause——DickGilder。Thatsourceofthefather"ssufferingwashersaswell。Shehadwonherambitionofyears，revengeonthemanwhohadsenthertoprison。Andnowthejoyofitwasatorture，forthepuppetofherplans，theson，hadsuddenlybecomethechiefthinginherlife。Shehadtakenitforgrantedthathewouldleaveherafterhecametoknowthathermarriagetohimwasonlyadevicetobringshameonhisfather。Instead，helovedher。Thatfactseemedthesecretofherdistress。Helovedher。More，hedaredbelieve，andtoassertboldly，thatshelovedhim。Hadheactedotherwise，thematterwouldhavebeensimpleenough……Buthelovedher，lovedherstill，thoughheknewtheshamethathadcloudedherlife，knewthemotivethathadledhertoaccepthimasahusband。
More——byasublimeaudacity，hedeclaredthatshelovedhim。
Therecameathrillinherhearteachtimeshethoughtofthat——thatshelovedhim。Theideawasmonstrous，ofcourse，andyet——Here，asalways，shebrokeoff，ahotflushblazinginhercheeks……Nevertheless，suchcuriousfanciespursuedherthroughthehours。Shestrovehermightiesttoridherselfofthem，butinvain。Evertheypersisted。Shesoughttooustthembythinkingofanyoneelse，ofAggie，ofJoe。Thereatlastwassatisfaction。HerinterferencebetweenthemanwhohadsavedherlifeandthetemptationoftheEnglishcrookhadpreventedadangerousventure，whichmighthavemeantruintotheonewhomsheesteemedforhisdevotiontoher，iffornootherreason。Atleast，shehadkepthimfromtheoutrageousfollyofanordinaryburglary。
MaryTurnerwasjustreadyforbedafterhereveningatthetheater，whenshewasrudelystartledoutofthisbelief。Anotecamebyamessengerwhowaitedfornoanswer，ashetoldtheyawningmaid。AsMaryreadtheroughlyscrawledmessage，shewascaughtinthegripofterror。Someinstinctwarnedherthatthisdangerwasevenworsethanitseemed。Themanwhohadsavedherfromdeathhadyieldedtotemptation。Evennow，hewasengagedincommittingthatcrimewhichshehadforbiddenhim。Ashehadsavedher，soshemustsavehim。Shehurriedintothegownshehadjustputoff。Thenshewenttothetelephone-bookandsearchedforthenumberofGilder"shouse。
*****
ItwasjustafewmomentsbeforeMaryTurnerreceivedthenotefromthehandsofthesleepymaidthatoneoftheleavesoftheoctagonalwindowinthelibraryofRichardGilder"stownhouseswungopen，underthepersuasiveinfluenceofathinrodofsteel，cunninglyused，andJoeGarsonsteppedconfidentlyintothedarkroom。
Afaintradianceofmoonlightfromwithoutshowedhimforasecondashepassedbetweentheheavydraperies。Thenthesefellintoplace，andhewasinvisible，andsoundlessaswell。Foraspace，herestedmotionless，listeningintently。Reassured，hedrewoutanelectrictorchandsetitglowing。Alittlediscoflighttouchedhereandthereabouttheroom，travelingveryswiftly，andinmethodicalcircles。Satisfiedbythesurvey，Garsoncrossedtothehalldoor。Hemovedwithalertassurance，lithelybalancedontheballsofhisfeet，noiselessly。Atthehalldoorhelistenedforanysoundoflifewithout，andfoundnone。Thedoorintothepassagethatledtothestore-roomwherethedetectiveswaitednextengagedhisbusiness-likeattention。
Andhere，again，therewasnaughttoprovokehissuspicion。
Thesepreliminariestakenasmeasuresofprecaution，Garsonwentboldlytothesmalltablethatstoodbehindthecouch，turnedthebutton，andthesoftglowofanelectriclampilluminedtheapartment。Theextinguishedtorchwasthrustbackintohispocket。Afterwardhecarriedoneoftheheavychairstothedoorofthepassageandproppeditagainstthepanelinsuchwisethatitsfallmustgivewarningastotheopeningofthedoor。Hiseveryactionwasperformedwiththemaximumofspeed，withnoleasttraceofflurryorofnervoushaste。Itwasevidentthathefollowedadefiniteprogram，thefruitofprecisethoughtguidedbyexperience。
Itseemedtohimthatnoweverythingwasinreadinessforthecomingofhisassociatesinthecommissionofthecrime。Thereremainedonlytogivethemthesignalintheroomaroundthecornerwheretheywaitedatatelephone。HeseatedhimselfinGilder"schairatthedesk，anddrewthetelephonetohim。
"Giveme999Bryant，"hesaid。Histonewashardlylouderthanawhisper，butspokenwithgreatdistinctness。
Therewasalittlewait。Thenananswerinavoiceheknewcameoverthewire。
ButGarsonsaidnothingmore。Instead，hepickedupapenholderfromthetrayonthedesk，andbegantappinglightlyontherimofthetransmitter。ItwasacodemessageinMorse。Intheroomaroundthecorner，thetappingsoundedclearly，tickingoutthemessagethatthewaywasfreeforthethieves"coming。
WhenGarsonhadmadeanendofthetelegraphing，therecameabriefanswerinlikeMorse，towhichhereturnedashortdirection。
Forafinalsafeguard，Garsonsearchedforandfoundthetelephonebell-boxonthesurbasebelowtheoctagonalwindow。Itwastheworkofonlyafewsecondstounscrewthebells，whichheplacedonthedesk。Sosimplyhemadeprovisionagainstanyalarmfromthissource。Hethentookhispistolfromhiship-pocket，examinedittomakesurethatthesilencerwasproperlyadjusted，andthenthrustitintotherightside-pocketofhiscoat，readyforinstantuseindesperateemergency。Onceagain，now，heproducedtheelectrictorch，andlighteditasheextinguishedthelamponthetable。
Forthwith，Garsonwenttothedoorintothehall，openedit，and，leavingitajar，madehiswayinsilencetotheouterdoorway。
Presently，thedoorstherewerefreedoftheirboltsunderhisskilledfingers，andoneofthemswungwide。Hehadputoutthetorchnow，lestitsgleammightcatchthegazeofsomecasualpasser-by。Sonicelyhadtheaffairbeentimedthathardlywasthedooropenbeforethethreemenslippedin，andstoodmuteandmotionlessinthehall，whileGarsonrefastenedthedoors。Then，apenciloflighttracedthelengthofthehallwayandGarsonwalkedquicklybacktothelibrary。Behindhimwithstepsasnoiselessashisowncamethethreementowhomhehadjustgiventhemessage。
Whenallweregatheredinthelibrary，Garsonshutthehalldoor，touchedthebuttoninthewallbesideit，andthechandelierthrewitsradiantlightonthegroup。
Griggswasineveningclothes，seemingaveryelegantyounggentlemanindeed，buthistwocompanionswereofgrossertype，asfarasappearanceswent:one，Dacey，thinandwiry，withaferretface；theother，ChicagoRed，abrawnyruffian，whosestolidfeaturesneverthelessexhibitedsomethingofhalf-sullengoodnature。
"Everythingallrightsofar，"Garsonsaidrapidly。HeturnedtoGriggsandpointedtowardtheheavyhangingsthatshroudedtheoctagonalwindow。"Arethosethethingswewant？"hedemanded。
"Yes，"wastheanswerofEnglishEddie。
"Well，then，we"vegottogetbusy，"Garsonwenton。Hisalert，strongfacewassetinlinesofeagernessthathadinitsomethingoffiercenessnow。
But，beforehecouldaddadirection，hewashaltedbyasoftbuzzingfromthetelephone，which，thoughbell-less，stillgavethisfaintwarningofacall。Foraninstant，hehesitatedwhiletheothersregardedhimdoubtfully。Thesituationofferedperplexities。Togivenoattentiontothesummonsmightbeperilous，andfailuretorespondmightprovokeinvestigationinsomeurgentmatter；toansweritmighteasilyprovidealargerdanger。
"We"vegottotakeachance。"Garsonspokehisdecisioncurtly。
Hewenttothedeskandputthereceivertohisear。
Therecameagainthefainttappingofsomeoneattheotherendoftheline，signalingamessageintheMorsecode。Anexpressionofblankamazement，whichgrewinaflashtodeepconcern，showedonGarson"sfaceashelistenedtensely。
"Why，thisisMarycalling，"hemuttered。
"Mary!"Griggscried。Hisusualvacuityofexpressionwascastofflikeamaskandalarmtwistedhisfeatures。Then，inthenextinstant，acraftytriumphgleamedfromhiseyes。
"Yes，she"son，"Garsoninterpreted，amomentlater，asthetappingceasedforalittle。Hetranslatedinaloudwhisperastheirregulartickingnoisesoundedagain。
"Ishallbethereatthehousealmostatonce。Iamsendingthismessagefromthedrugstorearoundthecorner。Havesomeoneopenthedoorformeimmediately。"
"She"scomingover，"Griggscriedincredulously。
"No，I"llstopher，"Garsondeclaredfirmly。
"Right!Stopher，"ChicagoRedvouchsafed。
But，when，aftertappingafewwords，theforgerpausedforthereply，nosoundcame。
"Shedon"tanswer，"heexclaimed，greatlydisconcerted。Hetriedagain，stillwithoutresult。Atthat，hehungupthereceiverwithagroan。"She"sgone——"
"Onherwayalready，"Griggssuggested，andtherewasnonetodoubtthatitwasso。
"What"sshecomingherefor？"Garsonexclaimedharshly。"Thisain"tnoplaceforher!Why，ifanythingshouldgowrongnow——"
ButGriggsinterruptedhimwithhisusualbreezycheerfulnessofmanner。
"Oh，nothingcangowrongnow，oldtop。I"llletherin。"Hedrewasmalltorchfromtheskirt-pocketofhiscoatandcrossedtothehalldoor，asGarsonnoddedassent。
"God!Whydidshehavetocome？"Garsonmuttered，filledwithforebodings。"Ifanythingshouldgowrongnow!"
Heturnedbacktowardthedoorjustasitopened，andMarydartedintotheroomwithGriggsfollowing。"Whatdoyouwanthere？"hedemanded，withperemptorysavagenessinhisvoice，whichwasatonehehadneverhithertousedinaddressingher。
MarywentswiftlytofaceGarsonwherehestoodbythedesk，whileGriggsjoinedtheothertwomenwhostoodshufflingaboutuneasilybythefireplace，atalossoverthisintrusionontheirscheme。Marymovedwithalissomegracelikethatofsomewildcreature，butasshehaltedoppositethemanwhohadgivenherbackthelifeshewouldhavethrownaway，therewasonlytenderpleadinginhervoice，thoughherwordswereanarraignment。
"Joe，youliedtome。"
"Thatcanbesettledlater，"themansnapped。Hisjawwasthrustforwardobstinately，andhiscleareyessparkleddefiantly。
"Youarefools，allofyou!"Marycried。Hereyesdarkenedanddistendedwithfear。TheydartedfromGarsontotheotherthreemen，andbackagaininrebuke。"Yes，fools!Thisisburglary。I
can"tprotectyouifyouarecaught。HowcanI？Oh，come!"SheheldoutherhandspleadinglytowardGarson，andhervoicedroppedtobeseeching。"Joe，Joe，youmustgetawayfromthishouseatonce，allofyou。Joe，makethemgo。"
"It"stoolate，"wasthesternanswer。Therewasnoleastrelaxationinthestubbornlinesofhisface。"We"reherenow，andwe"llstaytillthebusinessisdone。"
Marywentastepforward。Thecloakshewaswearingwasthrownbackbyhergestureofappealsothatthosewatchingsawthesnowyslopeoftheshouldersandthequickriseandfallofthegentlycurvingbosom。Thebeautifulfacewithintheframingscarfwascolorlesswithagreatfear，saveonlythecrimsonlips，ofwhichthebowwasbenttremulouslyasshespokeherprayer。
"Joe，formysake!"
Butthemanwasinexorable。Hehadsethimselftothisthing，andeventheurgingoftheonepersonintheworldforwhomhemostcaredwaspowerlessagainsthisresolve。
"Ican"tquitnowuntilwe"vegotwhatwecamehereafter，"hedeclaredroughly。
Ofasudden，thegirlmadeshifttoemployanothersortofsupplication。
"Buttherearereasons，"shesaid，faltering。Acertainembarrassmentswepther，andtheivoryofhercheeksbloomedrosily。"I——Ican"thaveyourobthishouse，thisparticularhouseofalltheworld。"Hereyesleapedfromthestillobduratefaceoftheforgertothegroupofthreebackofhim。Hervoicewasshakenwithagreatdreadasshecalledouttothem。
"Boys，let"sgetaway!Please，oh，please!Joe，forGod"ssake!"
Hertonewasasob。
HeranguishoffeardidnotswerveGarsonfromhispurpose。
"I"mgoingtoseethisthrough，"hesaid，doggedly。
"But，Joe——"
"It"ssettled，Itellyou。"
Intheman"semphasisthegirlrealizedatlasttheinefficacyofhereffortstocombathiswill。Sheseemedtodroopvisiblybeforetheireyes。Herheadsankonherbreast。Hervoicewashuskyasshetriedtospeak。
"Then——"Shebrokeoffwithagestureofdespair，andturnedawaytowardthedoorbywhichshehadentered。
But，withamovementofgreatswiftness，Garsongotinfrontofher，andbarredhergoing。Forafewsecondsthetwostaredateachothersearchinglyasiflearningnewandstrangethings，eachoftheother。Inthegirl"sexpressionwasanoutragedwonderandagreatterror。Intheman"swasahalf-shamedpride，asifheexultedinthestrengthwithwhichhehadbeenabletomaintainhiswillagainsthersupremeefforttooverthrowit。
"Youcan"tgo，"Garsonsaidsharply。"Youmightbecaught。"
"AndifIwere，"Marydemandedinaflashofindignation，"doyouthinkI"dtell？"
Therecameanabruptchangeinthehardfaceoftheman。Intothepiercingeyesflamedasofterfireoftenderness。Thefirmmouthgrewstrangelygentleashereplied，andhisvoicewasovertonedwithfaith。
"Ofcoursenot，Mary，"hesaid。"Iknowyou。Youwouldgoupforlifefirst。"
Thenagainhisexpressionbecameresolute，andhespokeimperiously。
"Justthesame，youcan"ttakeanychances。We"llallgetawayinaminute，andyou"llcomewithus。"Heturnedtothemenandspokewithswiftauthority。
"Come，"hesaidtoDacey，"yougettothelightswitchtherebythehalldoor。Ifyouhearmesnapmyfingers，turn"emoff。
Understand？"
Withinstantobedience，themanaddressedwenttohisstationbythehalldoor，andstoodreadytocontroltheelectriccurrent。
Thedistractedgirlessayedonelastplea。ThemomentarysofteningofGarsonhadgivenhernewcourage。
"Joe，don"tdothis。"
"Youcan"tstopitnow，Mary，"camethebriskretort。"Toolate。
You"reonlywastingtime，makingitdangerousforallofus。"
Againhegavehisattentiontocarryingontherobbery。
"Red，"heordered，"yougettothatdoor。"Hepointedtotheonethatgaveonthepassagewayagainstwhichhehadsetthechairtilted。Asthemanobeyed，Garsongavefurtherinstructions。
"Ifanyonecomesinthatway，gethimandgethimquick。Youunderstand？Don"tlethimcryout。"
ChicagoRedgrinnedwithcheerfulacceptanceoftheissueinsuchanencounter。Hehelduphishugehand，widelyopen。
"Notachance，"hedeclared，proudly，"withthatoverhismug。"
Toavoidpossibleinterruptionofhismovementsinanemergency，heremovedthechairGarsonhadplacedandsetittooneside，outoftheway。
"Now，let"sgettowork，"Garsoncontinuedeagerly。Maryspokewiththebitternessofdefeat。
"Listen，Joe!Ifyoudothis，I"mthroughwithyou。Iquit。"
Garsonwasundismayedbythethreat。
"Ifthisgoesthrough，"hecountered，"we"llallquit。That"swhyI"mdoingit。I"msickofthegame。"
Heturnedtotheworkinhandwithincreasedenergy。
"Come，you，GriggsandRed，andpushthatdeskdownabitsothatIcanstandonit。"Thetwomenbenttothetask，heedlessofMary"sfranticprotest。
"No!no!no!no!no，Joe!"