Part 31 (1/2)
”Are you in such haste? I've come on purpose to escort you back over the bridge and have a little chat with you. There is something almost comic in the situation, don't you think?”
”If there is, Mr. Wiley, it is discernible only to you.” She shrugged.
”I will leave you to the enjoyment of it.”
”Not yet, my dear! Our bird has flown, I know, but I am curious to learn why you haunt the empty cage.”
Willa paused, eying him steadily.
”What is it to you, as long as the Senora Reyes is not here?”
”Because I believe that you will lead me to her more quickly than my agents can!” Wiley's smile became a knowing leer. ”Very clever, your conversation over the telephone the other night, designed for Angie's benefit! You knew that she would report it faithfully to me and you counted on it to throw me off the track, but it didn't quite serve its purpose.”
Willa's heart gave a leap, and then sank in a sick wave of fear for Tia Juana. She did not realize until that moment how certain she had been that the old woman was in the hands of those whose interest it would be to keep her safe.
Wiley's att.i.tude betrayed the fact that he knew no more than the girl herself where Tia Juana was. What, then, could have happened to her?
”I really must congratulate you once more!” he went on, ironically.
”It was a master stroke, a flash of genius, to spirit the old lady away from this latest retreat of hers, and pretend that you, too, were in the dark as to her whereabouts. It was not your fault that the shot fell short of its mark!”
Willa hesitated. Should she tell him the truth? That would, of course, give him equal ground with her and he would move heaven and earth to beat her in the search, but in her hideous new anxiety she would almost rather know that Tia Juana was in antagonistic hands than face the vague but terrible possibilities confronting her.
Starr Wiley accepted her silence as an admission and on the instant his manner changed.
”I have followed you here to tell you that the time is past for quibbling, and no mere ruse will suffice longer to put me off!” He moved close to her and glared down implacably into her unwavering eyes.
”You refused to meet me half way, and now you shall hear my ultimatum: You will produce Tia Juana or take me to her within three days, or I shall tell what I know!”
”Mr. Wiley--” Willa drew herself up very straight and tall--”I have no statement to make about Tia Juana, save that I cannot and will not take you to her. I have listened to your threats and innuendoes until my patience is exhausted and I warn you not to approach me again on this or any other matter. What you know is immaterial to me, you must tell it to whom you please. Will you leave me now, or permit me to depart without a further scene?”
He bowed and stepped back.
”As you desire. Remember you have three days. Think it over well, my dear Billie. It is your present position, the Murdaugh money, a brilliant future and a name, against the Pool of the Lost Souls!”
CHAPTER XVII
ANGIE SCORES
”I was sorry to have missed you at my sister's, although I do not think you would have welcomed my appearance!” laughed Kearn Thode. ”I was striped with plaster like a savage in war paint.”
”I had the pleasure of seeing the other victim of that motor accident,”
Willa remarked demurely. ”He was even less prepossessing than usual.
I--I knew something of what occurred as I think you could understand from my note. I think that I have again to thank you for your champions.h.i.+p.”
They were sitting out a dance in the Allardyce's conservatory at their first meeting the night of the Erskine dinner and for some reason speech was difficult to them both. Her eyes, usually so candid, were veiled from him, but Thode swept her with a hungrily wistful gaze.
”You are mistaken. You have nothing to thank me for. I am sorry that any idle gossip reached your ears, but believe me, no other course was open to me. No man could have helped himself--”
”Oh, I understand, of course.” Willa blundered helplessly in her haste. ”You would have done as much, under the same circ.u.mstances, for any other girl, but it is good to feel that there are real men in the world who will protect the name of a friend as though it were that of an own sister.”