her back to him, and, bending a little, was examining the oven.
Noiselessly setting down the cup and the bread, he crept behind her,
and, seizing her in one powerful arm, covered her mouth with his free
hand. He could not wholly stifle the smothered shriek she gave.

For the next moment he had his hands full. Despite her wrinkles and her
gray hair, she was a strong woman, and she fought with a violence and a
false strength due to overwhelming fury and terror. It was so difficult
to control her without hurting her that all his strength was taxed. But
at last he brought her slowly down into a chair under the row of
dish-towels, and seizing two of these useful articles, as well as the
cord that held them, securely bound and gagged her. As he did so he
dropped his role and looked soberly into her furious eyes.

"Look here," he told her. "I'm not going to hurt you; be sure of that.
But I've got something to say, and I want you to stop struggling and
listen to it."

Under his quiet tones some of the frenzy died out of the eyes staring up
at him.

"I'm here to get Miss Mayo," he went on. "She's in the house, isn't she?
If she is, nod." There was a long moment of hesitation. At last the head
nodded. "Is there any one else in the house?" The head shook negatively.
"Is there no one here but you and Miss Mayo?" Laurie could hardly take
in this good luck, but again the head shook negatively. "Where is she?
Upstairs?"

The head nodded. He stepped back from the bound figure.

"All right," he said cheerfully. "Now I'm going to unbind you and let
you take me up to her. As a precaution, I shall leave the bandage on
your mouth and hands. But, being a sensible woman, of course you realize
that you have absolutely nothing to fear, unless you give us trouble. If
you try to do that, I shall have to lock you into a closet for a few
hours."

As he spoke he was unfastening the cord.

"Lead on," he invited, buoyantly.

There was an instant when he thought the struggle with her would begin
all over. He saw her draw herself together as if to spring. But she was
evidently exhausted by her previous contest. She was also subdued. She
rose heavily, and, taking her time to it, slowly led the way out of the
kitchen and along a hall to the front of the house.

"No tricks, remember," warned Laurie, keeping close behind her. "Play
fair, and I'll give you a year's salary when I take Miss Mayo out of
this."

She turned now and looked at him,