"I can't tell it here," she insisted. "I must speak to you alone."
"Alone? Why?"
"It's a private matter. Will you come into the next room, there's no one there——"
She turned and was moving toward the door when Jeff's large figure blocked the way.
"You don't know what you're doing, Rita," he whispered. "You can't. I forbid it." But Berkely, who had been watching the General, took Jeff by the arm and held him by main force.
"Stand aside, sir," said General Bent, roughly brushing by. "If there's something you want concealed, it's something I want to hear." And he followed, banging the door behind him.
Jeff made a movement as though he would follow—then turned toward Cortland Bent and Janney, who had watched this extraordinary change in the demeanor of their enemy with wonder and some curiosity. Jeff stared at them wildly and took up his hat, saying in a strange voice,
"Come, Larry, I must get away from here—at once," and, opening the door, he fled madly down the corridor.
Berkely paused a moment. "We have no intention of dodging any issues," he said quietly. "If any of you gentlemen want to see Mr. Wray or me, you can find us both at the Wetherall Ranch to-morrow."
CHAPTER XXVI