Jane couldn’t keep quiet any longer. She turned angrily to the young man.
“Are you responsible for Cliff’s arrest, David McCall?” she demanded.
“I am,” he stated calmly. “I did it to protect our insurance company. It just happens that our company holds most of the insurance up here at Shady Nook. And they’ve paid enough already—or will pay. So I don’t want any more fires. It’s my duty to protect their interests.”
“Oh, yeah?” retorted Jane, hot with fury. “Well, you’re not doing it! Cliff Hunter never started those fires, and you’ll find out soon he’s innocent!”
“How?” demanded David.
“There will be another fire, just the same. We haven’t got the guilty person yet. I know it!”
Mrs. Gay shuddered. “Oh, I hope not!” she exclaimed. “But I believe we’ll go home tomorrow.”
“We’re planning to stay on here at the Royal while we see about repairing the damage,” said Mrs. Smith. “But if it isn’t safe——”
“I guess the hotel’s safe enough,” put in her husband. “It’s practically fireproof.”
David turned nonchalantly to Mary Louise. “Will you dance with me after supper, Mary Lou?” he asked. “It’s my last night here. I’m going to Albany tomorrow.”