Page:Arthur Stringer--The House of Intrigue.djvu/119

Rh if they're so anxious to see her. Let 'em stand there while the will is read and signed. I want 'em to think they see her sign it. Let 'em stare their eyes out, so long as they keep their distance!"

The quavery old voice spoke with such bitterness that I surmised the walls about me temporarily sheltered a family somewhat divided by enmity. But I had little time to think this over, for the chest-tones of the big doctor once more vibrated through my shielding panel.

"But can we depend on that girl at such a time?"

"We've got to depend on her!"

"But supposing she kicks over the traces? Supposing she smells a rat and tries to queer the whole game by—"

"How?"

"Well, supposing she tried to escape?"

"Why should she?"

"About any girl of that type would. And we've got to figure on that."

"But Cacciata would sandbag her before she got to the first street corner." He's there on guard. You know that as well as I do. And we're not here to suppose things. She'll go through with this, by heaven, or there'll be more than one dead woman in this house before morning!"