"Oh!" she screamed. "Don't touch me! Larry!"
"Quit that!" cried the young reporter, stepping suddenly from behind the curtain. "That will do, Mr. Sullivan!"
Larry spoke more calmly than he had any idea he could under the circumstances. He seemed master of the situation.
The very suddenness of Larry's appearance caused Sullivan to recoil a step. He fairly glared at the young reporter and then looked at Grace, who was trembling from the words and actions of her rude visitor.
"You here!" exclaimed the politician, in a whisper. "So that's the game, eh? I thought the Leader was in on it."
"There's no game at all!" cried Larry, indignantly. "I am here in the interests of the paper to learn all I can about Mr. Potter's disappearance."
"Then ask her to tell you the truth!" cried Sullivan, pointing his finger at Grace. "She knows where he is!"
"I don't! I wish I did!" and Grace faced her accuser with flashing eyes.
"Don't repeat that remark," said Larry, calmly, though there was a determined air about him. "You know better than that, Mr. Sullivan," and Larry stood fearlessly before the politician. In the unlikely event of a physical encounter Larry had no fears, for he was tall and strong for his age.
"It's true!" Sullivan repeated, in a sort of a growl, for he was a little afraid of the tempest he had stirred up.