"Well—she passes for such, and so did the one before her. Never trouble about that—you must decide upon what I have told you. I must go now. You can give your answer to-morrow."
Yellow Jack left the room, and, after a warning glance and whisper, the spy did the same.
That night Crazy Joe disappeared. As he had predicted, this caused little or no comment. It was only an idiot gone.
On the morrow Yellow Jack again visited Lottie. It is useless to repeat his arguments. They were the same in substance as those just recorded, save that they were more vehement and full of passion.
Lottie, frightened and heart-sick, still did not forget the warning of Crazy Joe—or Joe Burleson, as he had told her his real name was—and begged for time. This he granted, though with evident reluctance.
Scarcely had he disappeared than Mabel rushed into the room with a maniacal fury, clutching a long, keen-pointed stiletto. With a half-stifled scream, she strove to plunge it into Lottie's breast. The peril lent the captive strength, and after a desperate struggle, she succeeded in disarming the madwoman.
Then, in hysterical sobbings the truth came out, and Lottie learned what had caused the sudden change in one who had, until that hour, treated her so kindly. She had overheard all that passed between Lottie and Yellow Jack in the second interview.
Fortunate it was that Lottie remembered Burleson's caution never to speak without weighing every word that she said, while in her dangerous position. Only for that she would have told Mabel all: have told her how she loathed the very sight of the monster, Yellow Jack, and that she was only playing her cards to gain time that she might be saved.
Instead, she only disclaimed all thought of winning Yellow Jack from her; that she would far rather matters remained as they were.
Mabel, on the other hand, saw only one hope left her, and that was in the escape of Lottie. While she remained, the outlaw would only stray the further from his rightful allegiance, and with that hope, she declared to Lottie that she would assist her to escape.