“Mammy, tell me what took place before I came upon the scene,” said Mr. Porter. “I mean within the last half hour, not before.”
Mammy repeated all she had seen and heard. As she talked Mr. Porter rang the janitor’s bell. When the man appeared he said to him: “Get Terry and wait with him out in the main corridor. Do it quickly, and don’t make a fuss.” Terry was the house detective.
“Now, Sniffins, sit down and explain what I saw as I entered the Arch. There is something wrong here, and I’ve got to get to the bottom of it right off. It will be useless to beat about the bush now. Mammy has seen and heard enough to make things very disagreeable for you, I fancy, and certainly I’ve seen pleasanter spectacles than your conduct with Miss Boggs as I entered——”
“She ain’ Miss Boggs no mo’n I is,” broke in Mammy.
Sniffins would not answer. Mr. Porter turned to the trembling little figure at the opposite side of the room, real pity in his kind eyes. Sniffins glowered at her. Catching the look, Mr. Porter turned upon him like lightning.
“If you try to intimidate that child, by the great Jehosaphat I’ll either give myself the satisfaction of thrashing you, or turning you over to Terry on an accusation you’ll not like. Now quit it! You haven’t a thing in the world to fear, Miss Boggs; I guess it is all far less grave than it seems to you this minute. So tell me the whole truth.”
Mr. Porter’s voice had changed rapidly from the severe tones directed toward Sniffins, and now held only encouragement for the terrified girl. After a few spasmodic sobs she faced him and said:
“No, Mr. Porter, I shall not try to keep up this deceit any longer. I told Lige when I began it that it would be useless. I’m not the kind of girl who can do such things; I’m not smart enough.”
“Reckons yo’s too smart fer ter try ter be what he is,” broke in Mammy. Mr. Porter held up his hand to enjoin silence, but if Mammy consented to keep her tongue still, she could still wag her head and use her eyes, and to some purpose.
“My name isn’t Boggs, but Sniffins——”