“And—Barker, did they see any one but you?”
“Oh yes, sir. I stood at the hall window and watched them until the road turned, and I couldn’t see them no more.”
“They will come back,” Helen almost sobbed as the door closed behind Barker.
“When they come back Hugh will not be here,” Latham told her confidently.
“Of course.” Latham smiled at her. In all his years of conventional rectitude, he had never defied the law of his land; and he fully realized the heinousness of aiding a deserter soldier to escape arrest—and in war time too—and its possible consequences. But he was staunch in friendship, he was greatly sorry for Helen, be the merits of Hugh’s case what they might, and he knew that Angela’s eye was on him. And this thing he could do. To raise the dead to the girl’s aid he had no necromancy, but to smuggle Hugh away he might easily compass, if no more time were lost. “Of course,” he repeated. “I must. Go and tell Hugh to come here as quickly as he can.”
“Yes,” Helen said eagerly. “Oh, thank you, Doctor.”
Helen hurried away. Latham held out his hand, and Angela came to him and put hers in it. She asked him no question, and for a space he stood thinking.
“Home!” She echoed his word in consternation.
“Yes, go back as if nothing had happened.” He put his arm about her and led her towards the door.
“As if nothing had happened?” she said feebly.
“Keep those men there until we have a chance to get Hugh safely away.”
“Oh——” she cried in a panic. “Oh—I couldn’t.”
“You must.” If “must” is the one word no woman forgives any man ordinarily, it can on the other hand be the sweetest she ever hears—at the right moment, from the right man. Angela accepted it meekly, and proudly too. “But what can I say to them?” she begged.
“But, Horace, what does one say to detectives?”
“You can say whatever comes into your head,” he replied, smiling into her eyes. “After all they are only men.”
Angela dimpled. “Yes—so they are—just men. I dare say I can manage.”
“I dare say you can,” Horace Latham retorted dryly.
“Hugh will be down directly,” Helen told Latham as she came in, a moment after Mrs. Hilary had gone.
“Good. I will take him away in my car, and find some place where he can stay safely until we can get at the truth of this.”