“Bunk!” snorted Gavegan.

“I know that part of what he says is true,” put in Hunt.

Miss Sherwood ignored Hunt and his remark.  The look of controlled wrath which she held upon Larry did not change.  Larry recognized that his statement had sounded most implausible.  Miss Sherwood in her indignation considered only that her kindness had been betrayed, her hospitality outraged, and that those she had accepted as friends had sought to trick her family in the worst way she could conceive; and she spoke accordingly.

“If that is the best Mr. Brainard has to say for himself, Mr. Gavegan, you may take him with you, and without any interference from me.  I ask only that you take him out of the house at once.”

With that she moved from the room, not looking again at either Hunt or Larry.  For a brief space there was silence, while Gavegan let his triumph feed gloatingly upon the sight of his prisoner.

This brief silence was broken by a low, strange sound, like a human cry quickly repressed, that seemed to come from just outside the French windows.

“What was that?” Larry asked quickly.

“I didn’t hear anything,” said Gavegan whose senses had been thoroughly concentrated upon his triumph.

“I did,” said Hunt.  “On the veranda.”

“We’ll see.  Watch him—­” to the county officer; and Gavegan followed Hunt to the French windows and looked out.  “No one on the veranda, and no one in sight,” he reported.  “You fellows must have been dreaming.”

He returned and faced Larry.  “I guess you’ll admit, Brainard, that I’ve got you for keeps this time.”

“Then suppose we be starting for Headquarters.”  Larry responded.

Hunt moved to Larry’s side.  “I’ll just trail along after you, Larry.  Anyhow, this doesn’t seem to be any place for me.”

A few minutes afterwards Larry was in a car beside Gavegan, speeding away from Cedar Crest toward the city.  Larry’s thoughts were the gloomiest he had entertained since he had come out of Sing Sing months before with his great dream.  All that he had counted on had gone wrong.  He was in the hands of the police, and he knew how hard the police would be.  He had incurred the hostility of Miss Sherwood and had lost what had seemed a substantial opportunity to start his career as an honest man.  The only item of his great plan in which he did not seem to have failed completely was Maggie.  And he did not know what Maggie was going to do.

CHAPTER XXXII

When Maggie drove away with Dick from Cedar Crest—­this was an hour before Gavegan descended out of the blue upon Larry and two hours before he rode triumphantly away with his captive—­she was the most dazed and disillusioned young creature who had ever set out confidently to conquer the world.  Courage, confidence, quickness of wit, all the qualities on which she had prided herself, were now entirely gone,