“Parlmee’s innocent, as I fancied. Weegman is the chief rascal.”
Stillman smiled. “In which case he’s beginning to find himself caught in a quicksand, and he’s trying to save himself by climbing out over his pal, Garrity. He’ll swear he had no finger in it. Garrity won’t dare accuse Weegman of being an accomplice, for by doing that he would acknowledge that there was a conspiracy. Weegman is in no danger in that direction of anything further than such private revenge as Garrity may seek to take.”
Lefty turned back and approached Virginia and Janet, addressing the former:
“Miss Collier, I want you to promise me that, for the present, at least, you’ll say nothing to Bailey Weegman about having seen and talked with me.”
The girl looked surprised. “I was just proposing that Janet should leave the hotel and stay here with me. I know my aunt will approve.”
“I approve anything you may wish, my dear,” said Mrs. Vanderpool, reëntering the room. “It would give me great pleasure to have Mrs. Hazelton visit us and remain as long as possible.”
Locke looked doubtful, for should that arrangement be carried out Janet might easily be led into telling Virginia more than it seemed advisable for her to know at the present time. But Mrs. Vanderpool made her invitation most cordial, and Janet gave him a beseeching glance. He wavered.
“Weegman calls here. If he should–”
Janet’s hand fell on his arm. “Trust me,” she urged significantly. “You can’t hope to keep him long in the dark. For the present, if he calls, I’ll not be in evidence. You’re so busy that I see very little of you during the day, anyway.”
So he was won over. Janet returned with him to the hotel to gather up the belongings she would need, and Stillman accompanied them. Lefty made his wife understand how desirous it was to keep Weegman blinded as long as possible, explaining that he feared Miss Collier’s indignation would lead her into betraying everything should she learn the whole truth regarding the two-faced schemer.