sh! You were not to speak of that."

But he would not let her hand go.

"And you--will you ever speak?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered dully.

She snatched her hand away. Her voice rose.

"Don't you see? It's because I don't know that I can't let you take such
chances with death. That's why I'm here, Jim."

CHAPTER XV

THE VEILED WOMAN

Inside the house the atmosphere of danger reached Garth more positively
than it had done even through Brown's unreasoning terror. Alsop and
Marvin met them in the hall. Both were white-faced and nervous. Through
the open door of a library Garth saw five men in evening clothes
gathered about a table which was littered with papers. Alsop closed the
door.

"I hope you and the inspector are satisfied," he jeered. "We're properly
trapped."

"The house is surrounded by detectives," Garth said. "We've arranged to
take care of the one with the bomb. For there is a bomb, Mr. Alsop.
There's no point lying about that."

Alsop scarcely made an effort to hide his fear.

"How are your detectives outside going to help us in here?"

He pointed to the closed door of the library.

"All my figures, all of my plans that I've ever put on paper I've
brought out here for the first time to-night for this conference. Don't
you suppose those devils know? And that thing--you can laugh at me if
you like--I tell you that thing in white is after them. When I went
upstairs just now to bring them from the safe I felt it. I _saw_
something white, and I ran down. Ask Marvin. I'm afraid. I acknowledge
it. Stay in this house with that--that influence, then if you'll tell me
I'm a coward I'll believe it."

"I'm not sneering," Garth said grimly. "As a matter of fact we know your
veiled woman is actually to be in this house at nine o'clock. It's
likely enough she's upstairs now in some hidden corner after failing to
steal your papers. I'll search every rat hole, because you can take it
for granted her apparent magic is pure trickery, and if she isn't to be
found upstairs we've a net arranged down here for her a little later."

He explained briefly the arrangement that Nora's presence and her
disguise had made possible. Alsop and Marvin were not impressed.

"Better find out what you can now," Alsop advised.

He nodded at Marvin. Garth and Nora followed the secretary towards the
stairs. Suddenly, with a sharp intake of breath, Garth turned, grasped
Nora's arm, and drew her back.

"Alsop