“Can’t you guess?” said Barnes, mysteriously, looking down upon her with a sudden return of ardor.
“Oh, did you do it?” and Sadie looked up at him from under her lashes.
“Didn’t I tell you I’d do it?” swelled Barnes.
Sadie thanked him with her wonderfully expressive eyes.
“Oh, it was nothing,” shrugged Barnes.
“You’re the nicest man I ever met,” blurted Sadie, with astounding frankness.
“Do you mean that?” cried Barnes, rapturously.
“Indeed I mean it,” admitted Sadie, timidly, backing away from his burning glances.
“Then you won’t mind my saying,” said Barnes fervently, “that you’re the nicest ma’––I mean girl––I ever met. Why, would you believe it––confound it, here’s that man Gladwin again. Please come upstairs and I’ll finish, handcuffs or no handcuffs.”