Page:The achievements of Luther Trant - Balmer and MacHarg - 1910.djvu/124

102 needle at the end of the levers. Suddenly he halted, looked keenly at the third set of cards and, without a word, left the room. In an instant he returned and after a quick, sympathetic glance at Mrs. Eldredge, turned to her husband.

"I need not examine Mrs. Eldredge further," he said. "You had better take her to her room. But before you go,go," [sic] he grasped the woman's cold hand encouragingly, "I want to tell you, Mrs. Eldredge, that I have every assurance of having the boy back within a very few minutes, and I have proof of your complete innocence. No, Mrs. Murray," he forbade, as the older woman started to follow the others. "Remain here." He closed the door after the other and faced her. "I have just sent your son to get Edward Eldredge from the place on Clark Street just south of Webster Avenue where you have been keeping him these three days."

"Are you a madman?" the powerful woman cried, as she tried to push by him, staring at him stonily.

"Really it is no use, madam." Trant prevented her. "Your son has been a most unworthy confederate from the first; and when I had excluded him from the room for a few moments and spoke to him of the place which you pointed out to me so definitely, it frightened him into acquiescence. I expect him back with the boy within a few minutes: and meanwhile—"

"What is that?" Eldredge had stepped inside the door.

"I was just telling Mrs. Murray," said Trant, "that