ng to
be spending your time indoors. Off you go."

There was certainly a better chance of getting help if they could escape.
Nothing was to be gained by staying. As they passed the table by which
Barraclough was standing he whipped an envelope from his pocket and
thrust it in Flora's hand with the words:

"Post that for me--quick."

Flora seized the envelope and made a dash for the window but hardly
covered half the distance before Dirk and Smith closed in upon her,
fighting for possession of the paper. It was given to Jane to translate
the actual meaning of this extraordinary performance and she alone saw
Barraclough take the note case swiftly from his pocket and bury it under
the foliage in the basket of roses. The others were too busily engaged
to attend to such a trifle.

"Let them have it, Flora," said Barraclough, sweetly. "They are friends
of mine. Do as I tell you."

"You girls get out," gasped Harrison Smith, coming down breathlessly with
the envelope, and after Flora and Jane had escaped into the garden,
"Cornered, Mr. Barraclough, and we've got the goods."

Anthony was smiling.

"Hadn't you better make sure?" said he.

The envelope was ripped open and a letter withdrawn.

"What's this?"

"I don't know--something my mother wrote. Oh, I wasn't born yesterday
and if you think I carry the concession--search me." And to emphasise
the uselessness of such a course he pulled out the lining of his inner
pocket.

Dirk and Smith closed in threateningly.

"We mean to have that paper," they said in a single voice.

"Haven't you chosen rather a public place to get it?" he answered
steadily. "Oh, I realise I'm cornered, but is this the place for the
kill? After all, I'm not much good to you without that paper."

"Where 'ave you put it?" hissed Dirk, edging closer. "Where 'ave you put
it, eh?"

"Aha, my friend, that's the point. But it won't be cleared up by
breathing hops in my face."

The barrel of Harrison Smith's pistol pressed unpleasantly into his short
ribs and Dirk's mascot "whump-whumphed" in the air above his head.

"A little persuasion."

"No, not even with a little persuasion." His voice rang high on a note
of challenge. "If you want that paper, you'll have to accept my terms
and my terms are stiff."

"I can tell you 'oo'll be stiff ternight if he don't----"

The sentence was never finished, for from the hall outside came the sound
of Mrs. Barraclough's voice:

"I may be