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!\"