"I'll be down pretty quick, Jack," he said. "I want to see Miss Lang a minute before I go."
A crooked little smile twisted the corners of McCoy's mouth and for a moment he looked deep into Gregory's eyes.
"I suppose congratulations are in order," he began somewhat uncertainly, and seeing that Gregory made no denial, he put out his hand. "I hope you'll both be happy," he said slowly.
Then he turned quickly and hurried out the door. Hawkins hurried after him.
"I guess I'll go down with McCoy," he explained. "I want to keep near a phone." Then he turned to Aunt Mary. "In to-morrow's Times you'll get the latest details of the secret of El Diablo," he said as he bade her good night.
When Hawkins had gone out and Aunt Mary had retired to the kitchen, Gregory exclaimed to Dickie Lang in a low voice:
"There's one secret she won't get in The Times. She won't have to wait that long. For I'm going to tell her now."
"You'd better not," answered the girl. "You would have to shout. She's unusually deaf to-night. All the neighbors would hear."
"That's what I want," Gregory cried as he walked to the kitchen with Dickie following close behind.
In the semi-darkness of the little pantry-closet he took the girl in his arms.