"You have things badly twisted, Miriam—he likes me." And suddenly rising to her feet, she clapped her hands impulsively. "Oh, Miriam, I almost forgot—I've good news—good news for you!" Then she ran swiftly toward Mrs. Challoner and swiftly back again to the window. "No, they're out of sight—almost...."
"Good news? What good news?" Miriam asked incredulously.
Shirley placed a hand upon her lips.
"Prosecutor Murgatroyd," she began, "told me in confidence——"
"In confidence!" Miriam repeated; "then you had better not——"
Shirley shook her head belligerently.
"Oh, no!" she laughed. "It's all right! Billy Murgatroyd likes to tell things to me. He told me once that he believed that to be one of the controlling motives that led to matrimony.... That a man should have somebody to tell things to."
Mrs. Challoner's curiosity got the better of her.
"And he told you—" she inquired eagerly.
"He told me the facts—gave away his evidence to me." Shirley tossed her head.