Gladwin dodged around the table, protesting:
“No, no––not yet. The burglar––that is, my friend––will be here any moment.”
“Your friend?” Phelan stopped, again a prey to bewilderment.
“Yes, yes––I explained all that before. The one I’m playing the joke on. You don’t suppose I’m going to take it off now, do you?”
“Yez can bet your life, yez are,” roared Phelan, with another savage rush round the table. “I’ve had enough of this, an’ too much!”
“Now, just a minute,” pleaded Gladwin. “I assure you everything is all right, and I’m not going to leave the house again. If anything happens so you need your uniform I’ll be right here where you can get it. I’m not going to leave the house. Tell me, where’s Barnes?”
“Who?” said Phelan, more calmly, and pausing in his pursuit.
“My friend––the one I left here.”
“I dunno––there was a ring at the bell here a while ago and in come a wild woman and”–––