“I-I-I d-d-don’t know,” stammered Barnes.
“You have hidden her somewhere and you must give her up,” stormed the woman. “You’re a scoundrel––you’re a kidnapper––you’re a wretch.”
She flung Barnes from her with all her strength and he slammed against the wall. She was about to charge upon him again when Sadie rushed between them.
“Oh, auntie,” she cried. “This is not Mr. Gladwin.”
“Of course he isn’t,” chimed in Barnes, trying to shake himself together again. “He isn’t Mr. Gladwin at all.”
“Then who are you?” cried Mrs. Burton.
“Oh, he’s some one else,” Sadie assured her.
“Yes, you bet I am,” continued Barnes, striving his best to appear his usual jaunty self. “I’m some one else entirely different––I-I’m not Gladwin in the least.”
“What are you doing here?” shot out Mrs. Burton.