Page:Betty Gordon in Washington.djvu/197

Rh stood on guard. It is well. You are not to move while I telephone to the police."

"Look here," said Bob determinedly, almost overwhelmed with his responsibility and blaming himself for having placed the girls in such an awkward position. "We're no thieves. You can telephone upstairs to Mr. Derby and he'll vouch for us."

"I know no Mr. Derby," said the little man stubbornly. "Why should you pick out a jeweler's office and creep in through the window? Answer me that! Are there not stairs?"

"Well we wanted to avoid some—er—men," blurted Bob.

"Yah—already the police seek you!" triumphed their captor. "Well, they will not have long to seek."

"They were not the police." Betty found her voice and spoke earnestly. "They were reporters, and we didn't want to be interviewed. We came down the fire escape from the fourth floor, and found the hall window locked. This window was open, and we crawled in, intending to get out into the hall. That is the absolute truth."