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312 "Mr. Embry was with poor dear Beatrice in the garden," said Mrs. Denham hastily. "We were all masked … But you know that part, don't you? We didn't miss them. After we'd got to bed Mr. Embry got the ropes off and the gag out of his mouth and gave the alarm. He had been lying out there all that time. Isn't it terrible, Mr. Steele? And Beatrice …"

She broke off with a shudder. Steele's frowning eyes gave no sign that he had been impressed by it.

"Beatrice," continued Mrs. Denham quickly, "was seized by four or five men; Mr. Embry didn't know how many. They carried her off and …"

"Mrs. Denham," said Steele with bright hard anger in his eyes. "Don't lie to me! I want to know what this whole crazy plan means, understand? And you are going to tell me!"

Mrs. Denham drew back from him, a little flurry of fear in her eyes.

"I don't know what you mean …"

"You do know. It's a put up job between you and Joe Embry. You have got her somewhere, why I don't know. But I am going to know just as fast as you can tell me. Where is Beatrice?"

She shrugged.

"If you know so very much …"

He came swiftly to her, towering above her.

"Tell me!" he commanded. Again she shrugged.

"I know only what Mr. Embry told me. That he was overpowered and bound, Beatrice dragged away. That," she added coolly, "he very much suspected it