“She foolishly promised to elope with me,” said Gladwin sweetly, “but when she got here and thought of the shock and grief that her dear aunt might suffer she suddenly changed her mind. I had everything arranged––car waiting, parson waiting, marriage license in my pocket, everything! You see madam, I am the only guilty party. Your niece was the innocent victim of my wiles.”
Mrs. Burton looked from one to the other in complete bewilderment. Helen could only blush and look confused. The immensity of Gladwin’s lie struck her dumb. Sadie was staring at him in open-mouthed amazement. Even Whitney Barnes blinked his eyes and forgot his handcuffs.
Travers Gladwin met Mrs. Burton’s frowning and perplexed stare with a fatuous smile. At last she turned to Whitney Barnes and asked:
“Is he telling the truth?”
“HE’S ALMOST AS MADLY IN LOVE WITH HER AS I AM.”
“Oh, yes,” said Barnes, readily, “and if it hadn’t been for me he might have kidnapped her. He’s almost as madly in love with her as I am––you will have to excuse me a moment, I think I see that man Ryan.”
The shackled young man suddenly darted out of the room, followed by Sadie, who seemed irresistibly drawn in his wake.