“God help me, I do fear that, Keefe! Oh, what can we do?”
“It’s a bad lookout! All I can say now, is, to preserve a non-committal demeanor, and keep things stationary as much as you can. Maybe when I come back, we can—well, at least muddle things so——”
“Complicate the evidence! So that it won’t indicate——”
“Be careful now! You know what compounding a felony means, don’t you? Oh, Allen, you’re so young and impulsive, and the Wheelers are so emotional and indiscreet, I wonder what will happen before I get back!”
“Somebody ought to be in charge here.”
“Yes, some good lawyer, or some level-headed person who would hold back those fool detectives, and look out for the interests of the Wheelers.”
“I wish you could stay.”
“I wish so, too, but I’ll do all I can to return quickly. And Mr. Wheeler ought to be able to look after his own affairs!”
“I know he ought to—but he isn’t. Also, I ought to, but I’m not!”
“Yes you are, Jeffrey,” cried Maida, who had happened along in time to hear the young man’s depreciation of himself.