"Possibly," he said. "But, Mr. Cargan, the blackness of the kettle always has annoyed the pot. Do not be afraid," he added to the girl. "Every gentleman in this room is to spend the evening with me. You will not be annoyed in any way." He looked around the menacing circle. "Go," he said, "and may the gods of the mountain take care of you." The little professor of Comparative Literature stepped forward and stood pompously before Magee. "One moment," he remarked. "Before you steal this money in front of our very eyes, I want to inform you who I am, and who I represent here." "This is no time," replied Magee, "for light talk on the subject of blondes." "This is the time," said the professor warmly, "for me to tell you that Mr. Kendrick here and myself represent at Baldpate Inn the prosecuting attorney of Reuton county. We--" Cargan, big, red, volcanic, interrupted. "Drayton," he bellowed. "Drayton sent you here? The rat! The pup! Why, I made that kid. I put him where he is. He won't dare touch me." "Won't he?" returned Professor Bolton. "My dear sir, you are mistaken. Drayton fully intends to prosecute you on the ground that you arranged to pass Ordinance Number 45, granting the Suburban Railway the privilege of merging with the Civic, in exchange for this bribe of two hundred thousand dollars." "He won't dare," cried Cargan. "I made him." "Before election," said the professor, "I believe he often insisted to you that he would do his duty as he saw it." "Of course he did," replied Cargan. "But that's what they all say." "He intends to keep his word." The mayor of Reuton slid into the shadows. "To think he'd do this thing to me," he whined. "After all I've done for him." "As I was saying, Mr. Magee," continued the professor, "Mr. Kendrick and I came up here to secure this package of money as evidence against Cargan and--the man above. I speak with the voice of the law when I say you must turn this money over to me." For answer Magee smiled at the girl. "You'd better go now," he said. "It's a long walk down the mountain." "You refuse?" cried the professor. "Absolutely--don't we, Miss Norton?" said Magee. "Absolutely," she repeated bravely. "Then, sir," announced the old man crushingly, "you are little better than a thief, and this girl is your accomplice." "So it must look, on the face of it," assented Magee. The girl moved to the big front door, and Magee, with his eyes still on the room, backed away until he stood beside her. He handed her his key. "I give you," he said, "to the gods of the mountain. But it's only a loan--I shall surely want you back. I can't follow ten feet behind, as I threatened--it will be ten hours instead. Good night, and good luck." She turned the key in the lock. "Billy Magee," she whispered, "yours is a faith beyond understanding. I shall tell the gods of the mountain that I am to be--returned. Good night, you--dear."