Good-bye."
Promptly on the stroke of twelve Barnes took down the receiver and
called for Green Fancy. O'Dowd answered almost immediately.
"I warned you last night, Barnes," he said without preamble. "I told
you to keep out of this. You may not understand the situation and I
cannot enlighten you, but I will say this much: no harm can come to
her while I'm here and alive."
"Can't she come to the telephone?"
"Won't ye take my word for it? I swear by all that's holy that she'll
be safe while I've--"
Barnes was cautious. This might be the clever O'Dowd's way of trapping
him into serious admissions.
"I don't know what the deuce you are talking about, O'Dowd," he
interrupted.
"You lie, Barnes," said the other promptly. "Miss Cameron is here at
my elbow. Will you have her tell you that you lie?"
"Let her say anything she likes," said Barnes quickly.
"Don't be surprised if you are cut off suddenly. The coast is clear
for the moment, but--Here, Miss Cameron. Careful, now."
Her voice, soft and clear and trembling with eagerness caressed
Barnes's eager ear.
"Mr. O'Dowd will see that no evil befalls me here, but he refuses to
help me to get away. I quite understand and appreciate his position.
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