She bowed coldly to Griswold, whose hand, as he surveyed the room and glanced out at the flag that fluttered in the doorway, went to his moustache with that gesture that Ardmore so greatly disliked; but Griswold again bowed gravely to his adversaries.
“Miss Dangerfield, and gentlemen,” began Griswold, with an air of addressing a supreme tribunal, “I believe this whole matter depends upon the arrest of one Appleweight, a well-known outlaw of North Carolina——”
“I beg your pardon——”
It was Jerry who interrupted him, her little fists clenching, a glint of fire in her eyes.
“It is for me to ask your pardon, Miss Dangerfield! Let us agree that this person is an unworthy citizen of any state, and proceed. It has been your endeavour to see this man under arrest in South Carolina, thus relieving North Carolina or her chief executive of responsibility for him. We, on our side, have used every effort to lodge Appleweight in jail on your side of the state line. Am I correct?”
Jerry nodded affirmatively.
“Then, Miss Dangerfield, and gentlemen, I must tell you that you have lost your contention, for Appleweight spent last night in jail at Kildare, and to secure his safe retention there, we generously lent your state a few of our militia to guard him. The proceeding was a trifle irregular, we admit—the least bit ultra vires—but the peculiar situation seemed to justify us.”
“There are not two Bill Appleweights,” remarked Colonel Daubenspeck. “I assure you that the real criminal spent last night in jail at Turner Court House, guarded by trustworthy men, and we are able to produce him.”
“The quickest way to settle this point, Professor Griswold, is by bringing in your man,” remarked Ardmore icily.
“On the other hand”—and Griswold’s tone was confident—“as there is no reason for doubt that we have the real Appleweight, and as we are on your territory and in a measure your guests, it is only fair that you produce the man you believe to be Appleweight, that we may have a look at him first.”