“I mean that Carter showed up at the house a little later and had a look at things,” Deland explained. “He didn’t know me from a side of leather, but he refused to let me in or to put me wise to what he suspected. He flew down to headquarters, instead, and Gordon was liberated.”
“Is that so?”
“When Carter returned he told the reporters that there had been no arrest, and that the whole business in so far as Gordon was concerned was a mistake.”
“That looks mighty bad,” said Cora, after a moment. “How do you size it up?”
“Hang the cursed dick, Cora, there’s only one way to size it up,” Deland again replied, with a snarl. “Carter got wise to something, enough to warrant his taking the chance of liberating Gordon.”
“That’s evident enough.”
“I then decided to bolt. I thought he might light on me next. That’s why I’m stewed and so hot around the collar,” Deland went on, with bitter ferocity.
“But this job——”
“The job must be wound up at once,” snapped Deland, again interrupting. “We must have that promised coin before Carter can get in his work. Won’t settle, eh? By heavens, I’ll soon see whether he’ll settle. He’ll settle, all right, or he’ll hear something drop.”
“But——”