And she had
not said even that she would ever let him hear.
While he considered these matters he had risen and paced the room.
Once he had paused at a French window which opened upon a side
veranda, and had seen below him a few yards away Joe Ellison, whose
interest in his flowers had established his workday from sunrise to
sunset. Joe Ellison had been pulling tiny weeds that were daring to
attempt to get a start in a rose-garden. Larry's mind had halted a
moment upon Joe. Here at least was a contented man: one who, no matter
what happened, would remain in ignorance of possibly great events
which would intimately concern him. Then Larry had left the window and
had returned to his thoughts of Maggie.
But Larry's thoughts were not to remain exclusively with Maggie for
long. Shortly after six Judkins entered and announced that a man was
at the door with a message. The man had refused to come in, saying he
was only a messenger and was in a hurry; and had refused to give
Judkins the message, saying that it was verbal. Thinking that some
word had come from his grandmother, or possibly even from Maggie,
Larry went out upon the veranda. Waiting for him was a nondescript man
he did not know.
"Mr. Brandon, sir?" asked the man.
"Yes. You have a message for me?"
Before the man could reply, there came a shout from the shrubbery
beyond the drive:
"Grab him, Smith! He's the man!"
Instantly Smith's steely arms were about Larry, pinning his elbows to
his sides, and a man broke from the shrubbery and hurried toward the
house.
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