Hank climbed back to his wagon-seat, and Jud, noticing the determined expression in the storekeeper’s eyes, deputized two men to keep watch of him while he went inside and did some telephoning.
Elizabeth Fox reached the city limits without being molested. She then looked at her watch, and slowed down her car. She kept the speedometer needle wavering within the speed law till she set her brakes before the building where the law firm of Starr and Jordan maintained their offices. Harold was so surprised to see his sister that he gave her the name of the Trust Company for which she asked before he realized what he was doing. She glanced at the clock, hastily scribbled the address on a card, and ran from the room. Harold stood still in dumb amazement. He walked to the window and looked down into the street below. He recognized her red motor-car as it glided through the traffic at an alarming rate. A mild oath escaped him as it dawned upon him that the name of the bank was that of the firm through which the interest payments had been made on the Phillips loan. What on earth could she be up to?
It was far past the noon hour when Elizabeth returned. The office was empty, the force having gone home for the Saturday 312 half-holiday. She turned from the locked door, but it flew open, and Harold called to her.
“I thought you’d come back, Sis. In fact, I meant to tell you that I wanted you to take dinner with me, but you blew in and out so suddenly that I didn’t have time to collect my thoughts. What are you up to, anyway?”
“Oh, nothing much.”
“How did you learn of this Phillips affair? I take it that that was what all your hurry was about.”
She only laughed in reply, her eyes dancing.
“I didn’t know that you were on the inside of this, and I don’t know yet how much you really know.”
“I know a lot.”