Part 17 (2/2)
”Oh, yes, I can.” The smooth, dominant voice roused Willa swiftly to white heat. ”I haven't seen anything about this outfit yet that comes too high for Grandfather Murdaugh's money.”
It was the first cynical remark that had ever fallen from the girl's lips, but she was learning fast, and Mrs. Halstead recognized the storm signals and withdrew.
In the hall, she encountered Willa's maid, a bright-eyed, hard-featured Frenchwoman.
”Liane, if Mademoiselle goes out before I return, you know what to do?”
”Bien, Madame, pairfectly.” The woman smiled quietly, and, turning, reentered her mistress' room.
”Go away, Liane. I'm going to try to rest. No, don't pull the curtains, I want the air. You may call me at six.”
Willa waited half an hour, then, dressing quickly in plain, dark clothing, she slipped from the house.
A taxi' stand was two blocks away on the Avenue, and as Willa stepped into the first cab, a taller, portlier figure entered the second, and followed slowly but persistently through the maze of traffic. The girl glanced from the window at the back to make sure of her espionage, then took up the speaking-tube.
”Never mind that address I gave you. Drive into the Park, to where you can find a sharp turn in the road; get around it as fast as the law will let you and then stop, but keep your engine going. There's a good tip in it for you if you obey instructions.”
”Right, Miss.”
The car swerved into the Park entrance, and Willa sat back with a peculiar light in her eyes. When it stopped abruptly she sprang out, and, walking rapidly back to the turn in the driveway, waited beside a screening clump of shrubbery.
In a moment the second taxi' hummed about the corner. The girl stepped forward with her arm thrown up and the chauffeur, bewildered, brought his car to a stop with a grinding jar of the brakes. In a moment Willa had the door open.
”Get out, Liane,” she commanded briefly, and with one look at her blazing eyes the woman meekly obeyed. Willa turned to the chauffeur.
”How much does your meter register? Take it out of this, keep the rest for yourself and go. Your fare will not need you any longer.”
The man hesitated, but his late pa.s.senger made no move, and the proffered banknote was a tempting one. He took it and went.
When the humming of his engine had died away Willa addressed herself to the cowering maid.
”You can walk back now, and tell your employer that you have failed.
Tell her, too, that your services are no longer required, and mind you stay only long enough to pack your things, for if I find you there on my return, I'll show you what we do to spies where I come from!”
”But, Mademoiselle, I was obeying my instructions!” The maid gesticulated vehemently. ”Madame commanded that I follow and observe who is at the rendez-vous. If Mademoiselle will be calm and tranquil we may come to an understanding, is it not so? I would prefer to be wholly in the service of Mademoiselle, and we might together arrange a little story for Madame----”
”Sell her out, would you, you treacherous Jane!” The old vernacular returned unbidden to Willa's lips. ”You'd play both ways from the ace and take in the look-out? If I had you down in Mexico I'd shoot you full of holes! You heard me! If I find you at the house when I get back, look out for your wretched skin!”
She sprang into her own taxi with a swift word to the chauffeur and bowled away, leaving her erstwhile guard wringing her hands in the road.
At the gate of the neat little frame house far up on the Parkway, her driver hesitated.
”Excuse me, Miss, but it's only fair to tell you this car can be traced here from the stand. I wouldn't double-cross you, but if the police get after me I'll have to come through.”
Willa smiled and then her face grew thoughtful.
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