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Page 22
Until this moment the young man could see nothing save the
shaft of light and the tiny glowing bulb at its base; now into
the light there protruded a black revolver.
"Keep your hands up, and walk ahead of me to the house,"
commanded the watchman. "The woman will go in front."
The young man did not move. Under his breath he muttered
impotently, and bit at his lower lip.
"See here," he said, "I'll go with you, but you shan't take
this lady in front of that madman. Let her go to her car.
It's only a hundred yards from here; you know perfectly well
she----"
"I know where your car is, all right," said the watchman
steadily, "and I'm not going to let you get away in it till
Mr. Carey's seen you." The revolver motioned forward. Miss
Forbes stepped in front of it and appealed eagerly to the
young man.
"Do what he says," she urged. "It's only his duty. Please!
Indeed, I don't mind." She turned to the watchman. "Which way
do you want us to go?" she asked.
"Keep in the light," he ordered.
The light showed the broad steps leading to the front entrance
of the house, and in its shaft they climbed them, pushed open
the unlocked door, and stood in a small hallway. It led into
a greater hall beyond. By the electric lights still burning
they noted that the interior of the house was as rich and well
cared for as the outside was miserable. With a gesture for
silence the watchman motioned them into a small room on the
right of the hallway. It had the look of an office, and was
apparently the place in which were conducted the affairs of
the estate.
In an open grate was a dying fire; in front of it a flat desk
covered with papers and japanned tin boxes.
"You stay here till I fetch Mr. Carey, and the servants,"
commanded the watchman. "Don't try to get out, and," he added
menacingly, "don't make no noise." With his revolver he
pointed at the two windows. They were heavily barred. "Those
bars keep Mr. Carey in," he said, "and I guess they can keep
you in, too. The other watchman," he added, "will be just
outside this door." But still he hesitated, glowering with
suspicion; unwilling to trust them alone. His face lit with
an ugly smile.
"Mr. Carey's very bad to-night," he said; "he won't keep his
bed and he's wandering about the house. If he found you by
yourselves, he might----"
The young man, who had been staring at the fire, swung sharply
on his heel.
"Get-to-hell-out-of-here!" he said. The watchman stepped into
the hall and was cautiously closing the door when a man sprang
lightly up the front steps. Through the inch crack left by
the open door the trespassers heard the newcomers eager
greeting.
"I can't get him right!" he panted. "He's snoring like a hog."
The watchman exclaimed savagely:
"He's fooling you." He gasped. "I didn't mor' nor slap him.
Did you throw water on him?"
"I drowned him!" returned the other. "He never winked. I
tell You we gotta walk, and damn quick!"
"Walk!" The watchman cursed him foully. "How far could we
walk? I'LL bring him to," he swore. "He's scared of us,
and he's shamming." He gave a sudden start of alarm. "That's
it, he's shamming. You fool! You shouldn't have left him."
There was the swift patter of retreating footsteps, and then a
sudden halt, and they heard the watchman command: "Go back,
and keep the other two till I come."
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