“I warned you that you'd better listen!”
In that moment she dominated the situation as completely as if she stood between the two men with a lighted bomb in her hand.
Mayo was overwhelmed even more completely than the financier. He realized that her extortion of a pledge from him had been subterfuge; her triumphant eyes flashed complete information on that point. Both anger and bewilderment made him incapable of any sane attempt to press his case with Marston at that time. He turned and started for the door.
“Stop that man, father. You'll be sorry if you do not! He must stay!”
“Come back here!” shouted Marston.
Mayo looked behind.
The magnate stood with finger on the push-button. “Come back, I say!”
“I protest. This is none of my business. I am here for something else than to listen to your daughter's private affairs.”
“You come back!” commanded the father in low tones of menace, “or I'll have you held for the United States marshals the minute you step foot outside that door.”
Raging within himself at the tactics of this incomprehensible girl, Captain Mayo walked slowly to the desk; it occurred to him that it was as hard to get out of Julius Marston's office as it was to get in.