He'd catch me in the lie,
sure as shootin'. And, say, they sent a couple of guys up for perjury
just last week, pals of mine, they were. Not for me, guv'nor. I'll
stick to the truth, just to see how it feels."
"But the man has sworn to kill me!"
"You pulled a gun on him," retorted the driver surlily. "I don't like
that kind of business. And I guess, if they happen to ask me, I'll
just mention that you tried to buy me off, too. Ta-ta! Maybe I'll see
you later." And away he went, less virtuous than nature intended him
to be, but wholly satisfied that he possessed a conscience, after all.
The Colonel, grim and furtive, accompanied Roberta to the station and
saw her safely off. By three or four o'clock in the afternoon he began
to feel reasonably certain that Jenison had failed in his attempt to
secure a warrant, or had been turned from his purpose by that cool-
headed, far-seeing woman, Mary Braddock. He remained in his rooms,
disdaining flight or subterfuge. All through the long, hot afternoon,
he paced the floor or sat in the windows, nervously awaiting the
descent of the officers. They did not come.
Pages:
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529