"See what you have done! See what you have done!"
"She brought it on herself," retorted Merry, turning away, his heart hardened toward the woman. "I have ridden a hundred miles to do everything in my power to find her daughter and restore her to her mother, and I am—arrested!"
There was deep bitterness in his tone and manner.
"Mr. File," he said, "I am ready to go with you, sir."
"Hold! Wait!" called Mrs. Arlington from the couch. "Tell me where you have taken my daughter!"
Frank gave her a look, shook his head a bit, and again turned away.
"Oh, tell me!" pleaded the wretched mother. "I can't bear this suspense! My poor June!"
Then she sat bolt upright and almost screamed:
"If you harm a hair of her head, I'll make you regret it until the day of your death! You'll be conpelled to tell! I'm going to see that you are sent to prison! I'll make a convict of you!"
Frank did not retort. As he was walking out with File's hand on his shoulder, the woman fell on her knees and begged him to restore her daughter.