Balcom stormed down from the room to the telephone, where, a moment later, he telephoned to an asylum, asking them to send a conveyance with nurses, keepers, and whatever paraphernalia was necessary to take care of his partner, Brent.
"Is he violent?" demanded the doctor over the telephone.
"Yes. Bring a strait-jacket," snapped back Balcom. "And the sooner he is under your care the better."
With that Balcom stamped out of the house.
In Brent's room, Paul was attempting still to ingratiate himself with Eva, who was growing more distant toward him with every moment. Finally Paul could stand it no longer. He turned on his heel and faced Locke angrily in the hall.
"You'll regret this, confound you!" he ground out, as he swung out of the room rapidly in a high state of feeling.
Unconcernedly Locke turned on his heel.
"Don't worry," he whispered to Eva. "I'll see that no harm comes to your father."
For answer, her own heart too full for words, Eva pressed the hand of the young scientist. It was reward enough for Locke.
Meanwhile, at Doctor Shaw's sanitarium, to which Balcom had telephoned with the permission of the doctor, elaborate preparations had been completed for the reception and transportation of Brent.