Miss Schuyler sat down again and made no answer, though she had
misgivings, and five or ten minutes passed silently, until there was a
tapping at the door, and the maid came in, very white in the face. She
clutched at the nearest chair-back, and stood still, apparently incapable
of speech, until, with a visible effort, she said: "Somebody must go and
send him away. He is waiting in the bluff."
Hetty rose with a little scream, but Flora Schuyler was before her, and
laid her hand upon the maid's arm.
"Now, try to be sensible," she said sternly. "Who is in the bluff?"
The girl shivered. "It is not my fault--I didn't know what they wanted
until the Sheriff came. I tried to tell him, but Joe saw me. Go right now,
and send him away."
Hetty was very white and trembling, but Flora Schuyler nipped the maid's
arm.
"Keep quiet, and answer just what we ask you!" she said. "Who is in the
bluff?"
"Mr. Grant," said the girl, with a gasp. "But don't ask me anything. Send
him away. They'll kill him. Oh, you are hurting me!"