!

I struck a match, and I saw by the tag that it was the one to the old
doctor's rooms. I knew right off what it meant. Mr. Pierce had gone to
bed, or pretended to throw them off the track and Thoburn had locked him
in! Thoburn hadn't taken any chances. He knew the influence Mr. Pierce
had over them all, and he and his champagne and tin cans had to get in
their work before Mr. Pierce had another chance at them.

I had no time to wonder how Miss Summers knew I was in the pantry.
I tried the window again, but it wouldn't work. Somebody in the
spring-house was shouting, "'Hot butter blue beans, please come to
supper!'" and I could hear them crowding around the tables. I worked
frantically with the hairpin, and just then two shadowy figures outside
slipped around the corner of the building. It was Mr. Pierce and Doctor
Barnes!

I darted back and put my ear to the door, but they did not come in at
once. Mr. Thoburn made a speech, saying how happy he was that they were
all well and able to go back to civilization again, where the broiled
lobster flourished like a green bay tree and the prune and the cabbage
were unknown.

There was loud applause, and then Senator Biggs cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished fellow guests," he began, "I
suggest a toast to the autocrat of Hope Springs. It is the only blot on
the evening, that, owing to the exigencies of the occasion, he can not
be with us. Securely fastened in his room, he is now sleeping the sleep
that follows a stomach attuned to prunes, a mind attuned to rule."

"Eat, drink and be merry!" somebody said, "for to-morrow you diet!"

There was a swish and rustle, as if a woman got up in a hurry.

"Do you mean," said Miss Patty's clear voice, "that you have dared to
lock Mr. Pier--Mr. Carter in his room?"

"My dear young lady," several of them began, but she didn't give them
time.

"It is outrageous, infamous!" she stormed. I didn't need to see her to
know how she looked.

"How DARE you! Suppose the building should catch fire!"

"Fire!" somebody said in a bewildered voice. "My dear young lady--"

"Don't 'my dear young lady' me," she said angrily. "Father, Bishop, will
you stand for this? Why, he may jump out the window and hurt himself!
Give me the key!"

Miss Julia's fingers were beating a tatoo behind her, as if she was
afraid I might miss it.

"If he jumps out he probably will hurt himself. It is impossible to
release him now, Miss Jennin