“Now we’ve got him sure,” his chief cried gleefully.
“And Harrington’s with him,” Duncan added excitedly.
“What!” Taylor ejaculated, stopping short on his way to the stairs. The two men talking together spelled collusion to him, and opened up complications to which he had hardly given a thought.
“Gibbs said they were talking together,” his subordinate continued.
“I was right at first,” Taylor exclaimed; “I thought that might be the game, but he fooled me so that I would have sworn he was innocent. Denby’s smuggling the necklace through for Harrington. Jim, this is a big job, get out there to make sure he don’t escape by the balcony. Have your gun handy,” he warned; “I’ve got mine.” He looked over to Ethel, whose face betrayed the anguish which she was enduring. “And I’ll get the drop on him this time.”
“No, no,” she cried, “you mustn’t!”
“You knew all the time he was back in his room and you’ve been trying to fool me—you’re stuck on him.”
“No, no, you’re wrong,” she said desperately.
“Am I?” he retorted; “then I’ll give you the chance to prove it. Send for Denby and ask him what he did with the necklace, and where it is now. Tell him I suspect you, and that he’s got to tell you the truth, but you won’t turn him over to me. Talk as if you two were alone, but I’ll be there behind that screen listening.” He took out his revolver and pointed to it meaningly. “If you tip him off or give him the slightest warning or signal, I’ll arrest you both, anyway. Wrong, am I?” he sneered. “We’ll see; and if you try to fool me again, you and your sister will have plenty of time to think it over in Auburn. Now send for him.”
There was a big screen of tapestry in one corner of the hall near the stairs. Behind this he had little difficulty in hiding himself.