Page:Arthur Stringer--The House of Intrigue.djvu/236

220 Mary's. For I meant business and I wanted them to know it.

"1 guess it's my turn to put a few questions to this little party," I told them as I backed slowly away, so as to command a better view of the line as a whole. "And I'm going to get answers to 'em or you're going to dance high. Now, you," I continued, confronting the smoldering-eyed Copperhead Kate, "how did you get into this house to-night?"

"I guess I walked in," was her sullenly insolent answer.

"Right through a locked door?"

"Oh, I've been carrying a pass-key to this house for a week or more," she airily acknowledged.

"Where'd you get that key?"

"A gen'l'man friend o' mine cut it from a blank."

"And you came to-night to make your haul?"

"Sure! You know that without askin' me!"

"But what made you come to this particular house?" I demanded, determined to get a snarl or two out of that tangle while the chance was before me.

"I liked the looks of it," was Copperhead Kate's altogether unsatisfactory retort.

"But who'd told you about the wall-safe up-stairs?" I persisted.