Part 22 (2/2)
”She can't see anyone--I mean there's no such person here!” snapped Robinson. ”What's the matter with that door?”
”My other book is of the rarest interest,” insisted Garrison. ”An account of the breaking of the Butler will--a will drawn up by the most astute and crafty lawyer in America, yet broken because of its flaws.
A book----”
”Whose will was that?” demanded Robinson, his interest suddenly roused.
”Some lawyer, did you say?” He relaxed his pressure on the door and fumbled at the chain.
”The will of Benjamin Butler--the famous Benjamin Butler,” Garrison replied. ”One of the most remarkable----”
”Come in,” commanded old Robinson, who had slipped off the chain. ”How much is the book?”
”I am only taking orders to-day,” answered Garrison, stepping briskly inside and closing the door with his heel. ”If you'll take this copy to the light----”
”Father!” interrupted an angry voice. ”Didn't I tell you not to let anyone enter this house? Get out, you old nuisance! Get out with your book?”
Garrison looked down the oak-finished hall and saw Theodore coming angrily toward him.
Alive to the value of the melodramatic, he threw off both his hat and mustache and squared up in Theodore's path.
Young Robinson reeled as if struck a staggering blow.
”You--you----” he gasped.
Old Robinson recovered his asperity with remarkable promptness.
”How dare you come into this house?” he screamed. ”You lying----”
”That's enough of that,” said Garrison quietly. ”I came for Dorothy--whom you dared to carry away.”
”You--you--you're mistaken,” said Theodore, making a most tremendous effort at calmness, with his face as white as death. ”She isn't here.”
”Don't lie. Your father has given the facts away,” said Garrison. ”I want her--and I want her now.”
”Look here,” said Theodore, rapidly regaining his rage, ”if you think you can come to my house like this----” He was making a move as if to slip upstairs--perhaps for a gun.
Garrison pulled his revolver without further parley.
”Stay where you are! Up with your hands! Don't either of you make a move that I don't order, understand? I said I'd come to take my wife away.”
”For Heaven's sake, don't shoot!” begged old Robinson. ”Don't shoot!”
”You fool--do you think I'd bring her here?” said Theodore, trying to grin, but putting up his hands. ”Put away your gun, and act like a man in his senses, or I'll have you pulled for your pains.”
”You've done talking enough--and perhaps _I'll_ have just a word to say about pulling, later on,” said Garrison. ”In the meantime, don't you open your head again, or you'll get yourself into trouble.”
He raised his voice and shouted tremendously:
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