“Tarrytown, Beronio, at the best you can get out of her.”
The automobile had a riot car siren, but it is safe to assert that no riot car ever ran like that one. There were few curves to make and with a few exceptions, the road was perfectly straight all the way.
The car could run at a speed of over sixty. It ran very nearly that the entire distance. As they raced along the highway, Tessie felt the universe slipping from her. The thought of what place in the world might be hers when this nightmare was over terrified her. The doctor read some of her thought from her expression and, trying to make her talk pointed out objects along the road—a difficult task, with the car dashing along so that telephone and telegraph posts almost resembled a picket fence. She replied in monosyllables. Finally he said:
“You mustn’t worry so much, my child. What is your anxiety, now?”
“Oh,” she cried, gulping to keep down a sob, “if the hunchback has taken alarm and gone away, what will become of Ross and me?”
“The shack will still be there, won’t it? That will confirm part of your story,” said the doctor.
These words bewildered the trembling young woman.
“You don’t believe, then, that I gave him poison deliberately?” she faltered.
“I would need more proof than we have now,” answered Dr. Jarvis.
To this enigmatic reply there was no response.