"Thank you," said he.
The book was opened at the fly leaf. On the leaf was written the following:
"You are trapped. I would have warned you, if I could, but he would have killed me. Now you are in the house, you can't get away. Do whatever you are told to do and all will be well. Lay the book back on the table, and don't let any one know what you have read here."
Matt was astounded. Trapped! And he had walked into the trap with his eyes wide open!
Who was the girl and why had she run the risk to warn him? And what good was her warning to do if he did not take advantage of it and make his escape?
"Now you are in the house, you can't get away."
He read those words again, and after he had read them he looked about the room curiously. There were two windows in the room and they were screened with thick curtains. Matt, however, could see no one. If the trap had been sprung where were the ones who had sprung it?
He realized that if he made an attempt to get out of the house now, those who had entrapped him would immediately conclude that the girl had given him a warning. Thus he would not only fail to get away, but would bring punishment upon the girl for her attempt to help him.
"Do whatever you are told to do and all will be well."
He read that over again and made up his mind that he would follow the advice. He laid the book back on the table, and, just at that moment, the girl re-entered the room.