Jack stared at his adversary open-mouthed. He required an appreciable
time to adjust himself to the situation. His face turned grim--but he
could see the joke on himself too.
"No wonder you were on to every move I made when I went to you for my
disguises!"
"Humorous situation, wasn't it?" said Evers mockingly.
"Was it accident?" demanded Jack.
"Oh, no! I willed you to come to me!"
Jack recollected the boy who had first given him Evers' name.
By this time Miriam had recovered her self-possession. She came out of
her corner. Addressing the detective sergeant, she said haughtily:
"What is the meaning of this outrage? This"--pointing to Bobo--"is Mr.
John Farrow Norman, and I am Mrs. Norman. The gentleman you have your
hand on is my uncle, George Culbreth. You shall pay dearly for this!"
She carried conviction. The two detectives looked uneasy. But Jack's
amused smile reassured them a little.
"This guy was trying to beat it," the sergeant said.
"I suppose he was going for assistance," said Miriam quickly.
"Well, what did you shoot for?"
"I shot as I would shoot at any intruder into my rooms. Take your
hands off that gentleman! I demand an explanation!"
Evers was staring at the ceiling with his head cocked quizzically. He
seemed the least concerned person in the room.
The sergeant nodded towards Jack. "We're under his orders, Miss.
You'll have to ask him."
"Oh, I know him!" she cried. "A discharged servant of my husband's!
He's capable of laying any charge out of spite! You'd better be
careful how you believe him!" She whirled on Kate. "And this woman!
She let him in! Another unfaithful servant! A nice thing it is when
people like us are at the mercy of their servants!"
"Oh, dry up, my dear!" said Evers in a weary voice. "You mean well,
but the game is up!"
But Miriam had acquired too much momentum to be stopped right away. "I
demand that the management be sent for!" she cried.
"It is not necessary," said Jack. He had caught sight of Mr. Delamare
entering from the corridor. "Here is some one who will identify me.
Tell her first, who this is."
"Mr. Walter Delamare," said the sergeant with unction.
Miriam, seeing the smile of confidence exchanged by Delamare and Jack,
felt the ground slipping from under her feet. Her face blanched.
"Well, anyway I am Mrs. Norman," she cried. "Nothing can change that!"
"Tell them all who I am, please," said Jack.
Delamare put a hand on Jack's shoulder. "This is my good friend, Jack
Norman," he said. "The late Silas Gyde's sole heir."
Evers' face betrayed no change. Perhaps his intuition had warned him
of what was coming. Not so Miriam. A queer gasping cry escaped her.
"Then who--who is this?" she stammered, pointing to Bobo. "And who am
I?"
"I don't know the young man's right name. Mr. Norman engaged him to
impersonate him, in order to free his hands while he was engaged in
running down the murderers of Silas Gyde."