“Hi!” called Abishai. “Hi, Mr. Ellery! don't go to that door. 'Tain't no use; it's locked.”
“Locked? Well, you can unlock it, can't you?”
“No, not very well. That is, I—Mr. Ellery, come back here, won't ye? I don't want anybody to hear.”
The house of the nearest neighbor being several hundred yards away, the likelihood of being overheard was improbable; but the minister came back, nevertheless.
“You see, Mr. Ellery,” stammered Kyan, “I—I'd like to have you come in fust rate, but—er—Laviny she's got the key.”
Ellery was surprised.
“She has!” he exclaimed.
“Um—hm, she's got it. She took it with her.”
“But there are other doors. She didn't take them all, did she?”
“No—o, but—Well, the fact is, Mr. Ellery, I—I—I'm locked in.”