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in Morse。 In the room around the corner； the tapping sounded clearly； ticking out the message that the way was free for the thieves' coming。
When Garson had made an end of the telegraphing； there came a brief answer in like Morse； to which he returned a short direction。
For a final safeguard； Garson searched for and found the telephone bell…box on the surbase below the octagonal window。 It was the work of only a few seconds to unscrew the bells； which he placed on the desk。 So simply he made provision against any alarm from this source。 He then took his pistol from his hip…pocket； examined it to make sure that the silencer was properly adjusted； and then thrust it into the right side…pocket of his coat； ready for instant use in desperate emergency。 Once again； now； he produced the electric torch； and lighted it as he extinguished the lamp on the table。
Forthwith； Garson went to the door into the hall； opened it； and； leaving it ajar； made his way in silence to the outer doorway。 Presently； the doors there were freed of their bolts under his skilled fingers； and one of them swung wide。 He had put out the torch now； lest its gleam might catch the gaze of some casual passer…by。 So nicely had the affair been timed that hardly was the door open before the three men slipped in； and stood mute and motionless in the hall； while Garson refastened the doors。 Then； a pencil of light traced the length of the hallway and Garson walked quickly back to the library。 Behind him with steps as noiseless as his own came the three men to whom he had just given the message。
When all were gathered in the library； Garson shut the hall door； touched the button in the wall beside it； and the chandelier threw its radiant light on the group。
Griggs was in evening clothes； seeming a very elegant young gentleman indeed； but his two companions were of grosser type； as far as appearances went： one； Dacey； thin and wiry； with a ferret face； the other； Chicago Red； a brawny ruffian； whose stolid features nevertheless exhibited something of half…sullen good nature。
〃Everything all right so far；〃 Garson said rapidly。 He turned to Griggs and pointed toward the heavy hangings that shrouded the octagonal window。 〃Are those the things we want？〃 he demanded。
〃Yes；〃 was the answer of English Eddie。
〃Well； then； we've got to get busy；〃 Garson went on。 His alert； strong face was set in lines of eagerness that had in it something of fierceness now。
But； before he could add a direction； he was halted by a soft buzzing from the telephone； which； though bell…less； still gave this faint warning of a call。 For an instant； he hesitated while the others regarded him doubtfully。 The situation offered perplexities。 To give no attention to the summons might be perilous； and failure to respond might provoke investigation in some urgent matter； to answer it might easily provide a larger danger。
〃We've got to take a chance。〃 Garson spoke his decision curtly。 He went to the desk and put the receiver to his ear。
There came again the faint tapping of some one at the other end of the line； signaling a message in the Morse code。 An expression of blank amazement； which grew in a flash to deep concern； showed on Garson's face as he listened tensely。
〃Why； this is Mary calling；〃 he muttered。
〃Mary！〃 Griggs cried。 His usual vacuity of expression was cast off like a mask and alarm twisted his features。 Then； in the next instant； a crafty triumph gleamed from his eyes。
〃Yes； she's on；〃 Garson interpreted； a moment later； as the tapping ceased for a little。 He translated in a loud whisper as the irregular ticking noise sounded again。
〃I shall be there at the house almost at once。 I am sending this message from the drug store around the corner。 Have some one open the door for me immediately。〃
〃She's coming over；〃 Griggs cried incredulously。
〃No； I'll stop her；〃 Garson declared firmly。
〃Right！ Stop her；〃 Chicago Red vouchsafed。
But； when； after tapping a few words； the forger paused for the reply； no sound came。
〃She don't answer；〃 he exclaimed； greatly disconcerted。 He tried again； still without result。 At that； he hung up the receiver with a groan。 〃She's gone〃
〃On her way already；〃 Griggs suggested； and there was none to doubt that it was so。
〃What's she coming here for？〃 Garson exclaimed harshly。 〃This ain't no place for her！ Why； if anything should go wrong now〃
But Griggs interrupted him with his usual breezy cheerfulness of manner。
〃Oh； nothing can go wrong now； old top。 I'll let her in。〃 He drew a small torch from the skirt…pocket of his coat and crossed to the hall door； as Garson nodded assent。
〃God！ Why did she have to come？〃 Garson muttered； filled with forebodings。 〃If anything should go wrong now！〃
He turned back toward the door just as it opened； and Mary darted into the room with Griggs following。 〃What do you want here？〃 he demanded； with peremptory savageness in his voice； which was a tone he had never hitherto used in addressing her。
Mary went swiftly to face Garson where he stood by the desk； while Griggs joined the other two men who stood shuffling about uneasily by the fireplace； at a loss over this intrusion on their scheme。 Mary moved with a lissome grace like that of some wild creature； but as she halted opposite the man who had given her back the life she would have thrown away； there was only tender pleading in her voice； though her words were an arraignment。
〃Joe； you lied to me。〃
〃That can be settled later；〃 the man snapped。 His jaw was thrust forward obstinately； and his clear eyes sparkled defiantly。
〃You are fools； all of you！〃 Mary cried。 Her eyes darkened and distended with fear。 They darted from Garson to the other three men； and back again in rebuke。 〃Yes； fools！ This is burglary。 I can't protect you if you are caught。 How can I？ Oh； come！〃 She held out her hands pleadingly toward Garson； and her voice dropped to beseeching。 〃Joe； Joe； you must get away from this house at once； all of you。 Joe； make them go。〃
〃It's too late；〃 was the stern answer。 There was no least relaxation in the stubborn lines of his face。 〃We're here now； and we'll stay till the business is done。〃
Mary went a step forward。 The cloak she was wearing was thrown back by her gesture of appeal so that those watching saw the snowy slope of the shoulders and the quick rise and fall of the gently curving bosom。 The beautiful face within the framing scarf was colorless with a great fear； save only the crimson lips； of which the bow was bent tremulously as she spoke her prayer。
〃Joe； for my sake！〃
But the man was inexorable。 He had set himself to this thing； and even the urging of the one person in the world for whom he most cared was powerless against his resolve。
〃I can't quit now until we've got what we came here after；〃 he declared roughly。
Of a sudden； the girl made shift to employ another sort of supplication。
〃But there are reasons；〃 she said； faltering。 A certain embarrassment swept her； and the ivory of her cheeks bloomed rosily。 〃II can't have you rob this house； this particular house of all the world。〃 Her eyes leaped from the still obdurate face of the forger to the group of three back of him。 Her voice was shaken with a great dread as she called out to them。
〃Boys； let's get away！ Please； oh； please！ Joe； for God's sake！〃 Her tone was a sob。
Her anguish of fear did not swerve Garson from his purpose。
〃I'm going to see this through；〃 he said； doggedly。
〃But； Joe〃
〃It's settled； I tell you。〃
In the man's emphasis the girl realized at last the inefficacy of her efforts to combat his will。 She seemed to droop visibly before their eyes。 Her head sank on her breast。 Her voice was husky as she tried to speak。
〃Then〃 She broke off with a gesture of despair； and turned away toward the door by which she had entered。
But； with a movement of great swiftness； Garson got in front of her； and barred her going。 For a few seconds the two stared at each other searchingly as if learning new and strange things； each of the other。 In the girl's expression was an outraged wonder and a great terror。 In the man's was a half…shamed pride； as if he exulted in the strength with which he had been able to maintain his will against her supreme effort to overthrow it。
〃You can't go；〃 Garson said sharply。 〃You might be caught。〃
〃And if I were；〃 Mary demanded in a flash of indignation； 〃do you think I'd tell？〃
There came an abrupt change in the hard face of the man。 Into the piercing eyes flamed a softer fire of tenderness。 The firm mouth grew strangely gentle as he replied； and his voice was overtoned with faith。
〃Of course not； Mary；〃 he said。 〃I know you。 You would go up for life first。〃
Then again his expression became resolute； and he spoke imperiously。
〃Just the same； you can't take any chances。 We'll all get away in a minute； and you'll come with us。〃 He turned to the men and spoke with swift authority。
〃Come；〃 he said to Dacey； 〃you get to the light switch there by the hall door。 If you hear me snap my fingers； turn 'em off。 Understand？〃
With instant obedience； the man addressed went to his station by