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!"