Page:Fifty Candles (1926).djvu/137

 carelessness drifted to the side of Carlotta Drew, who sat near the stairs. They talked eagerly in low tones; evidently they had much that was important to say to each other. Ignoring us all, Barnes sat staring gloomily into space. He seemed for the moment a discouraged man.

The bell of the telephone, which was in a closet under the stairs, rang sharply. Barnes jumped up and entered the closet, shutting the door behind him. We could hear his voice, faint, far away.

“Hello, Riley! Yes. What is it? Yes. That’s good. Fine work, Riley. Better take her to the station. Wait a minute—bring her up here first. Yes. Good-by.”

When Barnes emerged from the closet his face was beaming. He said nothing, but ran up the stairs two at a time. Rh