Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/196

 said nothing to the police about it. It rather makes you an accessory after the fact, doesn’t it? There’s a penalty for that.”

“I’m not worrying about my end of it, Iggy,” replied Val, though it occurred to him that Teck was probably correct. “All I have to say is that if I were you I’d get off this train at the first stop and go back to where I came from. Because I’m going to get you⸺” his eyes flashed with the first show of emotion during the conversation, “and I’m going to get you right. You’re going to go to the chair if it takes every nickel I have to convict you—and as for Miss Pomeroy, you’d better lay off any ideas you may have about getting her money—to say nothing about marrying her. You—marry that girl!” He looked his contempt and Teck had the grace to flush, though his flush was called out by anger and not by shame.

“Well, we’ll see about that, Morley. And now, as long as there are warnings being handed out, I want to tell you that the next time you interfere with me in any way there’ll be no such blundering as happened the last time. I want to tell you—straight—that you’d better not butt into this affair. It’s none of your business and⸺”

Val laughed. “You should get the police to protect you in the peaceful pursuit of your business, Iggy. You’ve got nerve enough, too. And don’t run away with the notion that I’m going home, either. I’m going down to where Miss Pomeroy is—and I’m going to stay there until she tells me to go. And now ” he rose and threw away the fag end of his cigarette, “I’m going to turn in. I advise you not to be within reaching distance to-morrow morning.”