"Brutes every one of them--and Billy Murgatroyd the worst of all!" The
exclamation fell from Shirley Bloodgood's lips.
Miriam Challoner had been resting her head forlornly on her arms as she
sat at a table, but on hearing the young woman's bitter remark she
raised her head and smiled a wan smile.
"Mr. Murgatroyd?" The tone was one of surprise. "Why, I thought you
liked him, Shirley?"
The girl hunched her shoulders expressively.
"You have things badly twisted, Miriam--_he_ likes _me_." And suddenly
rising to her feet, she clapped her hands impulsively. "Oh, Miriam, I
almost forgot--I've good news--good news for you!" Then she ran swiftly
toward Mrs. Challoner and swiftly back again to the window. "No, they're
out of sight--almost...."
"Good news? What good news?" Miriam asked incredulously.
Shirley placed a hand upon her lips.
"Prosecutor Murgatroyd," she began, "told me in confidence----"
"In confidence!" Miriam repeated; "then you had better not----"
Shirley shook her head belligerently.
"Oh, no!" she laughed. "It's all right! Billy Murgatroyd likes to tell
things to me. He told me once that he believed that to be one of the
controlling motives that led to matrimony.... That a man should have
somebody to tell things to."
Mrs. Challoner's curiosity got the better of her.
"And he told you--" she inquired eagerly.
"He told me the facts--gave away his evidence to me." Shirley tossed her
head.
"But--" again protested Miriam.
Once more Shirley silenced her.
"No--I shall tell you--this may be a matter of life and death; besides,
you are entitled to know the truth."
"Yes, yes," assented Miriam, "tell me--I must know--but first, wait a
moment." She pushed a button and Stevens entered.
"Stevens," she said in a low, strained voice, "don't let any one in the
house. Do you understand? I simply cannot stand it--to see another
person."