“What is wrong?” she asked in a low voice.
Bristow waved his revolver toward the door.
“They want me,” he said. “I can’t allow you girls to be drawn into this, so I shall go out.”
A dark expression passed over his face, and his hand tightened on the revolver. Shirley became alarmed.
She motioned him to the room beyond.
“You go in there,” she said. “No one will bother you.”
For a moment Bristow hesitated, then he bowed and passed in. As he went by her, Mabel reached out and relieved him of his revolver. Bristow started to protest, then changed his mind and said nothing.
Mabel motioned to Shirley.
“You go in too,” she said. “I’ll stay here.”
Shirley obeyed without a word. Then Mabel walked to the little center table, and put the revolver in the drawer.