reasoning, helped out by the many detective stories she had read in her leisure hours.
Janet did not yet know what had happened to Tabor, or unquestionably she would have been back in the house helping to bring Tabor back to consciousness. But not knowing, she was here, engineering another dramatic scene for herself.
So she stood in the doorway, looking into the familiar little glassed-in room. And at first sight as she let the tiny pencil of light focus on the hook by the opposite door, the garments appeared to be hanging there just as she had left them a few days ago. She was about to turn away and try some other possible hideout when it seemed to her in the wavering light that she saw or heard a slight movement over by those shadowy garments.
Janet was a courageous woman and afraid of nothing, even the uncanny, but the idea of movement over in that corner sent a thrill up her sturdy old backbone, and her ever-alert mind leaped to the thought of what she could do all by herself, if it should prove that one of the Fanes was hiding there. She should have brought a policeman with her of course, but stuff and nonsense! He would only have laughed at her notions, and no real policeman would stand for a woman's idea of course, so she swiftly searched in her mind for a way to catch whoever was there, if they were there, before they could get away. If anyone was there and should get away, she would never hear the last of it from Mike for not telling him what she was going to do. But, of course, she must make sure, so she turned the flashlight full upon the hanging garments, which even now showed a slight movement, as if someone or something were alive inside the clothes. Then the bright pencil of light played full upon the place, and there she saw as plain as day a pair of feet, peeping out from a fold in the long old coat. It took only an instant to recognize a crouching figure, flattened behind those worn old garments, a bony hand clutching the coat across. The rest of the figure was hidden behind the dark green skirt that hung behind the coat. That would be Lavira Fane. Janet was sure of it at once. But how to catch her, that was the question, and there was no time to waste.
Down beside Janet's feet lay a coil of hose, already attached, and at her right hand was a small iron wheel that controlled the water supply. Could she do it? She had used it before at times when the gardener had been sick or away and had asked her to water some special plants. But this, this was something different. She knew she was being watched by a desperate woman, and there was no time to spare.
But Janet was not one to hesitate when she had a job to do; she did it. Quick as a flash she stooped and silently caught up the nozzle of the hose, even while her other hand sought the wheel and gave it a twirl. With relief she heard the quick rush of water, and she gave her swift attention to the flashlight, directing its rays straight at a pair of desperate eyes now peering out, relieved to see the swift stream plunge straight toward its goal. She turned the full force of water toward the gasping prisoner as the woman flung the disguising clothes aside and tried to get away. But Janet had the water turned on in full force now, and it knocked the trapped woman flat to the ground as she groveled and struggled to get her breath and get away from the terrific force.
But now suddenly a great light burst over the place. Someone, perhaps a policeman, had heard the rushing water and turned on the searchlight from the back porch. Then Janet's achievement was revealed, and two policemen came rushing to her assistance.
They lifted the dripping Lavira to her feet, making her fast with handcuffs as they did so, and now she was screaming anathemas to the men and declaring they had no right to touch her, that she was a relative of the family and sent out there to get some garments that were to be given away.
"Anything around here we can put over her to carry her away,
Janet did not yet know what had happened to Tabor, or unquestionably she would have been back in the house helping to bring Tabor back to consciousness. But not knowing, she was here, engineering another dramatic scene for herself.
So she stood in the doorway, looking into the familiar little glassed-in room. And at first sight as she let the tiny pencil of light focus on the hook by the opposite door, the garments appeared to be hanging there just as she had left them a few days ago. She was about to turn away and try some other possible hideout when it seemed to her in the wavering light that she saw or heard a slight movement over by those shadowy garments.
Janet was a courageous woman and afraid of nothing, even the uncanny, but the idea of movement over in that corner sent a thrill up her sturdy old backbone, and her ever-alert mind leaped to the thought of what she could do all by herself, if it should prove that one of the Fanes was hiding there. She should have brought a policeman with her of course, but stuff and nonsense! He would only have laughed at her notions, and no real policeman would stand for a woman's idea of course, so she swiftly searched in her mind for a way to catch whoever was there, if they were there, before they could get away. If anyone was there and should get away, she would never hear the last of it from Mike for not telling him what she was going to do. But, of course, she must make sure, so she turned the flashlight full upon the hanging garments, which even now showed a slight movement, as if someone or something were alive inside the clothes. Then the bright pencil of light played full upon the place, and there she saw as plain as day a pair of feet, peeping out from a fold in the long old coat. It took only an instant to recognize a crouching figure, flattened behind those worn old garments, a bony hand clutching the coat across. The rest of the figure was hidden behind the dark green skirt that hung behind the coat. That would be Lavira Fane. Janet was sure of it at once. But how to catch her, that was the question, and there was no time to waste.
Down beside Janet's feet lay a coil of hose, already attached, and at her right hand was a small iron wheel that controlled the water supply. Could she do it? She had used it before at times when the gardener had been sick or away and had asked her to water some special plants. But this, this was something different. She knew she was being watched by a desperate woman, and there was no time to spare.
But Janet was not one to hesitate when she had a job to do; she did it. Quick as a flash she stooped and silently caught up the nozzle of the hose, even while her other hand sought the wheel and gave it a twirl. With relief she heard the quick rush of water, and she gave her swift attention to the flashlight, directing its rays straight at a pair of desperate eyes now peering out, relieved to see the swift stream plunge straight toward its goal. She turned the full force of water toward the gasping prisoner as the woman flung the disguising clothes aside and tried to get away. But Janet had the water turned on in full force now, and it knocked the trapped woman flat to the ground as she groveled and struggled to get her breath and get away from the terrific force.
But now suddenly a great light burst over the place. Someone, perhaps a policeman, had heard the rushing water and turned on the searchlight from the back porch. Then Janet's achievement was revealed, and two policemen came rushing to her assistance.
They lifted the dripping Lavira to her feet, making her fast with handcuffs as they did so, and now she was screaming anathemas to the men and declaring they had no right to touch her, that she was a relative of the family and sent out there to get some garments that were to be given away.
"Anything around here we can put over her to carry her away,
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