"I'm sorry," he sneered, "but I can't accommodate you." Scornfully he went on: "Why should we outline our plan of operation to you fellows? The girl's here for her own good, and this _habeas corpus_ business of yours is opposing the order of the court. If you want to see her, you can see her, but not while we are present." "It's an outrage!" exclaimed Mr. Ricaby indignantly. "An outrage?" echoed Mr. Cooley, elevating his bushy eyebrows in mock surprise. "Why, you saw Miss Marsh this morning, didn't you?" Turning to the superintendent, he asked: "Didn't you so inform me, Mr. Spencer?" "Yes, counsellor," replied the superintendent, with a grin. "Well, what more do you want?" sneered Cooley. "I demand to be present!" insisted Mr. Ricaby, who was becoming more angry every minute. "The Constitution of the United States expressly----" Mr. Cooley laughed outright: "Now, Ricaby, don't let's have any more of this high falutin' nonsense about constitutional rights and curtailments of liberty and all that rot! Keep that for the courts. Miss Marsh is at liberty to come and go as she pleases. But just at present she is engaged. See?" Rudely turning his back on his interlocutor, he said to Mr. Spencer: "Send McMutrie up as soon as he arrives." "Very well, counsellor," replied the superintendent, bowing deferentially. With a loud snort of defiance, Mr. Cooley turned on his heel and made his way upstairs. Mr. Ricaby, pale with suppressed wrath, quickly turned to Tod: "Is your machine at the hotel?" he demanded hoarsely. "Yes," replied the other. "Let me have it," said the lawyer. "I'll run up to town, I'll find a Supreme Court judge and get permission to be present at the examination. Is it a fast machine?" "Seventy--that's all!" replied the young man laconically. "All right!" said the lawyer excitedly. "Come and tell the chauffeur to take me to town as fast as he can go. When I get back we'll tackle Cooley together." "Right you are!" cried Tod enthusiastically. He was about to leave the office, when suddenly, through the window, he saw a lady and gentleman in the grounds making their way toward the building. "Hello!" he exclaimed, in astonishment. "It's mother." A moment later Mrs. Marsh, elegantly dressed in the latest fashion, entered, together with Dr. McMutrie. Tod hurried forward to greet her. "Hello, mother!" he cried. "Did you leave the machine outside?" "Certainly-- I didn't bring it in with me, you silly boy," she laughed. Surprised at his flustered manner, she demanded: "Why are you so excited--what's the matter?" Quickly Tod introduced them. "Mr. Ricaby--my mother! No time to explain." Quickly taking hold of the lawyer's arm, he said: "Come--we don't have to go far for the machine, it's outside. You'll be there and back before you know it. Then we'll give Cooley the time of his life!"