Jap whirled to face him.
"You see," stuttered Bill, "I—that is, we—Mabelle and I, we——"
Jap sprang forward, lithe as a panther, and caught Bill by the arm. Drawing him to the light, he looked full in the embarrassed face.
"Where is she?" he shouted. "Where is that sister of mine? Where is she hiding?"
The girl came from the dark hall, her eyes defiant, her head set with charming insolence on one side. Jap struggled with his self-possession an instant. Then a great, gurgling laugh shook his shoulders as he gathered the pair into his long arms.
"Golly Haggins!" the expletive of his boyhood leaped to his lips, "I'm glad the agony is over. Now perhaps we will be able to get the Herald to our subscribers on time."
CHAPTER XXIV
"Tom Granger got a telegram," announced Bill, coming into the office one morning early in April. "He wants to see you at once, Jap."
Jap's face blanched. He looked dumbly at Bill.