David Martin ordered Doris and Nancy out of town at once.
"You may not escape," he said, "but your best chance is in the open. Besides, you'll leave us freer here."
"But Joan—David!"
"Joan be hanged! Can't she get to Ridge House?"
"Of course. But I wanted to have her here to—to justify herself. Emily Tweksbury is trying to make a tragedy of Joan. I'm afraid Ken suspects her—his awful silences are insulting—I wanted to—to show her off."
"Nonsense, Doris! But this is no time for squibbling. Scoot!"
"But—you, David!"
"I? Oh! I'm all right. Remember I have Bud. Why, the chap is pulling up his sleeves and baring his breast to the foe. I'm going to stand close by him."
Martin's eyes shone.
"David, if anything should happen to you——" Doris paused.