“For hours”–––
“What?”
“I mean for yours––and Miss Sadie’s sake, and now if you’ll wait here and watch with me”–––
“Now I see it all,” stormed Mrs. Burton, shaking her hand at Barnes wrathfully. “You want to keep us here. Helen and that scoundrel have gone and you want to prevent our following them.”
“No, auntie, he’s trying to help us,” sobbed Sadie.
“He’s lying to you, child,” said Mrs. Burton, shooting vindictive glances at Barnes. “Don’t you know he’s a friend of that wretch Gladwin? But they can’t hoodwink me. I know what to do now! Helen is not of age––I’ll swear out a warrant––I’ll have him arrested for abduction, a State prison offense.”
“No, no, no,” implored Barnes, in real alarm, “you must not do that. That will make the whole thing public, and that is just what Gladwin is trying to avoid.”
“Don’t you suppose I know that,” sneered Mrs. Burton. “He’s probably a bigamist. He may have a dozen wives living––the beast!”
“But won’t you understand,” insisted Barnes. “He’s trying to save her, privately.”