Miss Wonderly gave a startled squeak, spun on her heel and tried to bolt up the stairs, but he reached out and grabbed her.
“They want me too,” I said, coming down slowly.
The man let go of Miss Wonderly as if she’d bitten him. He stepped back, his face going a dirty white.
“I don’t know anything about anything, mister,” he said in H low, hoarse voice.
I smiled at him. “You don’t look as if you do,” I said, and put Miss WonderIy’s bag down. “Where’s your telephone, bud ?”
He waved his hand to the room from which he had just come. I jerked my head and he went in. I followed him. Miss Wonderly pressed herself against the wall. She didn’t look as cute as she had when she’d pressed herself against my hotel wall, but then, she was dressed this time. It makes a difference.
The room was, big and untidy. There were shutters up at the windows to keep out the sun.
An old woman was holding the telephone receiver to her ear. When she saw me, she gave a gasp, and dropped the receiver. It fell with a little crash on the table. Then she sat down heavily in a rocking-chair and threw her apron over her face. I thought she looked pretty dumb sitting like that, but it seemed to give her some comfort.
I took hold of the telephone and jerked. The cord came away from the wall, and I tossed the instrument on the floor.
“Now you won’t be able to talk to anyone about anything,” I said, winking at the man. “That’ll be a nice change for you.”