"You! _You_! How did you get out of that wagon so quick? I've got you now, anyway!" And he shifted his gun in McAllister's direction. The women shrieked and crowded back into the dining-room.
The coachman, who had not dared to remove his eyes from the detective, now began to jabber hysterically.
"Hi think 'e's mad, I do, Mr. Blair! Hi think we all are! First hout comes Mr. McAllister, whom I brought from the station only an 'our ago an' says as 'ow 'e must go back at once to New York. So I 'arnesses up Lady Bird in the spyder an' sends Jeames to put hon 'is livery. Just as Jeames comes back an' Mr. McAllister jumps in, hout comes _this_ party _'ere_ an' yells somethin' about Welch an' tries to climb in arter Mr. McAllister. Jeames gives the mare a cut an' haway they go. Then this 'ere party begins to run arter 'em and commences shootin'. _Hi_ tackles 'im! _'E_ knocks me down! _Hi_ grabs 'im by the leg, an' 'ere we are, sir, axin' yer pardon--Hello, why _'ere's_ Mr. McAllister _now_! May I ask as 'ow you _got_ 'ere, sir?"
But Barney had suddenly dropped the pistol.
"Quick!" he shouted wildly. "Harness another horse! We've still got time. I can't lose my man this way!"
"Well, who _is_ he? Who _was_ it you shot at?"
"Welch! Fatty Welch!" shrieked the Baron. "There's two of 'em! But the one I want has started for the station. I must catch him!"
"Excuse me, sir," interrupted the old butler, who alone had preserved his equanimity, addressing Mr. Blair. "My impression is, sir, that it must have been Manice, sir--the new third man, sir. I saw him step out. He must have taken Mr. McAllister's coat and hat!"
There was an immediate chorus of assent. Of course that was it. The man had disguised himself in McAllister's clothes.
"He's got the necklace!" wailed Mildred. "Oh, I _know_ he has!"
"Necklace! What necklace?" inquired Barney, more bewildered than ever.
"My mother's pearl necklace! She bought it in Rome. And now it's gone. He's got it."
"Run and harness up, William!" directed Blair. "Put in the Morgan ponies. Hustle now. The train isn't due for fifteen minutes and you can reach the station in ten. Don't spare the horses!"
William, with a defiant look at the detective, hastened to obey the order.