But at last she had encountered someone who had no patience with her vagaries.
“Put that woman in the mantel-room and shut her up!” ordered the Unknown, the muzzle of his revolver emphasizing his words with a savage little movement.
Bailey took Lizzie under the arms and started to execute the order. But the sometime colleen from Kerry did not depart without one Parthian arrow.
“Don’t shove,” she said in tones of the greatest dignity as she stumbled into the Hidden Room. “I’m damn glad to go!”
The iron doors shut behind her. Bailey watched the Unknown intently. One moment of relaxed vigilance and—
But though the Unknown was unlocking the door with his left hand the revolver in his right hand was as steady as a rock. He seemed to listen for a moment at the crack of the door.
“Not a sound if you value your lives!” he warned again, he shepherded them away from the direction of the window with his revolver.
“In a moment or two,” he said in a hushed, taut voice, “a man will come into this room, either through the door or by that window—the man who started the fire to draw you out of this house.”
Bailey threw aside all pride in his concern for Dale’s safety.
“For God’s sake, don’t keep these women here!” he pleaded in low, tense tones.