“It isn’t true!” cried the woman. “The girl is in the plot with the man.”
Shirley’s face grew red.
“I am not!” she declared. “This woman is guilty. She put the things under that long cape.”
The floor walker was plainly mystified. He glanced from one to the other.
“Well, it will do no harm to have a look,” he declared. He turned to the woman. “Will you remove your cape, madam?”
The woman drew back, and pulled the garment closer about her.
“No, I won’t!” she declared, “I—”
“Very well,” said the floor walker. “I shall have the floor matron search you.”
He turned and called to one of the clerks. But the woman waited for no more. With a single move she took off her cape, and threw it to the floor.
“There,” she said, throwing out her arms, “you may see that I have nothing.”