Part 16 (1/2)

From the hall Mannie appeared between the curtains that hung across the doorway. ”What are you doing with the lights?” he demanded. ”You want to break my neck? All our people are downstairs,” he announced.

Vance turned on the lights. At the same moment Rainey came from the bedroom into the library. It was evident that to sustain his courage he had been drinking. He made no effort to greet those in the room, but stood, glaring resentfully at the cabinet and the row of chairs.

”Well,” exclaimed Vance cheerfully, ”if our folks are all here, we're all right.”

Glancing behind him, Mannie took Vance by the sleeve, and led him to the centre of the room.

”No, we're not all right,” said the boy, ”that Miss Coates has brought a friend with her. She says Hallowell told her she could bring a friend.

She says this young fellow is her friend. I think he's a Pink!”

”What nonsense,” exclaimed Gaylor in alarm. ”No detective would force his way into this house.”

”She says,” continued Mannie, disregarding Gaylor, and still addressing Vance, ”he's a seeker after the Truth. I'll bet,” declared the boy violently, ”he's a seeker after the truth!”

Garrett came hastily and noiselessly into the room. He nodded toward Mannie.

”Has he told you?” he asked.

”Yes,” Gaylor answered, ”who is he?”

”The reporter who was here this morning,” Garrett returned. ”The one who threatened--”

”That'll do,” commanded Gaylor. In the face of this new complication he again became himself. Suavely and politely he turned to Vance. ”Will you and your friend join Miss Vera,” he asked, ”and tell her that we begin in a few minutes?”

For the first time, aggressively and offensively Rainey broke his silence.

”No, we won't begin in a few minutes,” he announced, ”not by a d.a.m.ned sight!”

The explosion was so unexpected that, for an instant, while the eyes of all were fixed in astonishment upon the speaker, there was complete silence. Gaylor, still suave, still polite, looked toward Vance, and motioned him to the door.

”Will you kindly do as I ask?” he said. With Mannie at his side, Vance walked quickly from the room. Once in the hall, the boy laid a detaining hand upon the arm of the older man.

”If you'll take my advice, which you won't,” he said, ”we'll all cut and run now, while we got the chance!”

In the library, Gaylor turned savagely upon his fellow conspirator.

”Well!” he demanded.

Rainey frowned at him sulkily. ”I wash my hands of the whole thing!” he cried.

Gaylor dropped his voice to a whisper.

”What are you afraid of now?” he demanded. ”If you're not afraid of a district attorney, why are you afraid of a reporter?”

”I'm not afraid of anybody,” returned Rainey, thickly. ”But, I don't mean to be a party to no murder!” He paused, shaking his head portentously. ”That man in there,” he whispered, nodding toward the bedroom, ”is in no condition to go through this. After that shock this morning, and last night--it'll kill him. His heart's rotten, I tell you, rotten!”

Garrett snarled contemptuously.

”How do you know?” he demanded.