"Do you want to do something for me now?"
"Do I?"
"Well, if you want to help me, don't sit there looking like the criminal ghost of the girl I know."
The blood rushed to my face. Nance Olden, a sniveling coward! Me, showing the white feather—me, whimpering like a whipped puppy—me—Nance Olden!
"You know," I smiled up at him, "I never did enjoy getting caught."
"Hush! But that's better.... Tell me now—"
A buzzer sounded. The blue-eyed detective got up and came over to me.
"Chief's ready," he said. "This way."
They stopped Obermuller at the door. But he pushed past them.
"I want to say just a word to you, Chief," he said. "You remember me. I'm Obermuller, of the Vaudeville. If you'll send those fellows out and let me speak to you just a moment, I'll leave you alone with Miss Olden."