The constable’s big friend took charge of him while Mary Louise and the officer entered the dark, cold house. The moment they opened the door they heard a girl’s terrified sobs from the living room.
“Who—are—you?” she called, in a voice choking with fear and misery.
“The Constable of Center Square and Mary Louise Gay!” replied the young detective.
The prisoner jumped to her feet and ran out to the open door.
“Mary—Louise—Gay!” she repeated incredulously, bursting afresh into tears.
But Mary Louise had identified her immediately. She was Margaret Detweiler!
CHAPTER XVII
A Sad Story
Mary Louise thought she had never seen anyone change so much in the short space of two years as Margaret Detweiler had changed. How much older she looked, how much sadder, in spite of her expensive clothes! What a strange, trapped expression there was in her eyes, like that of an animal caught in a cage!
“You—are—going to arrest me?” the girl stammered, directing her question to the constable.
“I am doing just what Miss Gay says, at the present time,” replied the man. “So far, I don’t know that you’re guilty of any crime.”