"Understanding that you give me full credit," her associate told her,
his lips close to her ear.
"I ain't sure but what I'd better hide you till night," the landlord
informed Lida. "As I said, they're naturally genteel, but----" He
hesitated when he heard the growing grumble of voices.
"I've got trouble enough in getting away without taking you on for an
extra load," was Crowley's rough repudiation of Lida. "You have
double-crossed----"
"I'll accept your opinion as an expert in that line," she said, lashing
her courage back to meet the situation. "I am not asking any favors from
Vose-Mern or their operatives. Nor from you," she informed the landlord.
She settled Ward's cap and jacket more securely in the clutch of her
arms. "Unbar and open the door, if you please, Mr. Brophy."
He demurred.
"It's the door of a public inn. You must open it."
He obeyed, standing ready to repel intruders.
She walked straight out and through the crowd of hostile natives, who
parted to allow her to pass; her chin was up and her eyes were level in
meeting the gaze of any man who stared at her.
She had made up her mind where she was going, and the thought of that
intended destination put some of the spirit of old Echford Flagg in her.
When she was free from the crowd she began to run; instinct of the
homing sort impelled her to hasten. She had not settled in her mind what
she would say or do when she got there, but there seemed to be no other
place in all the world for her right then except the big house on the
ledges.