“Dat fix ’em,” said Noel to Flora O’Dell. “Dat sweat out de fever off his blood, a’right.”
Marion went to bed at eight-thirty. Five minutes later wheels rumbled, the red dogs barked and a knock sounded on the kitchen door. Mrs. O’Dell heard the dogs and wheels and came hurrying down the back stairs. Noel, who was already in the kitchen, hastened to the door. The lamp was on the table behind him. He pulled the door wide open, and in the instant of recognizing Mel Lunt and old Hood on the threshold he also saw and recognized the muzzle of a shotgun within six inches of his chin.
Noel stepped back a few paces and the visitors followed him sharply. Hood kicked the door shut behind him just in time to keep out the red dogs. While Lunt kept Noel covered, Hood snapped the steel bracelets into place.
“Yer arrested,” said Hood. “Where’s McAllister?”
At that moment, both intruders saw Mrs. O’Dell standing near the foot of the back staircase, gazing at them with amazement and growing apprehension in her blue eyes.
“I don’t want to p’int no weepon at a lady, but you come away from there an’ set down an’ keep quiet,” said Lunt.
Mrs. O’Dell sat down on the nearest chair, which was only a few feet away from the narrow staircase.
“Where’s yer brother Jim, ma’am?” asked Lunt.
“He went to Woodstock for a doctor,” she replied.
“None o’ yer lies, mind!” cried Hood.