Mrs. Arlington astonished the doctor by seeming[Pg 259] stronger and better than she had been since it was known that June had disappeared.
"Now I have you!" she said exultantly. "If you do not tell me at once where my daughter may be found it will go still harder with you."
Merry gave her a look of pity.
"Madam," he said, "I fear that you are not in your right senses. Your action in coming to this part of the country and bringing your daughter here, where you have had dealings with ruffians, confirms me in this belief. I cannot believe you would do such things if perfectly sane."
"You insult me!" she exclaimed, tossing her head. "But you shall pay dearly for your insults! The law will punish you!"
"And are you to stand clear of the law—you, who have incited ruffians to attack me and my property? I am well aware that law and justice may frequently be two different things; but I fancy it will be to your discomfort to have the whole truth come out. I know a ruffian called Cimarron Bill fired at me from the window of this very room. How came he here unless by your permission? And were you in partnership with a man of his character in an attempted murder?"
Frank's fearless words struck home, and the woman turned pale, in spite of herself.
"Oh, doctor!" she said, sinking back on the couch.
The astonished physician, who had remained dumb and staring through the most of this scene, now cried to Frank: