“I don’t care what he says,” Dorothy almost shouted. “But I do care about being shut up here, and if you do not liberate us at once I’ll see what the Borough of North Birchland thinks of you as an officer.”
It was plain the man was scared--the very name of Major Dale had startled him.
“And how am I to know that it was not a put-up job?” he asked foolishly.
“By the usual method--a trial,” ventured Dorothy, feeling no hesitation in saying anything to this ignorant man.
All this took time, and it was getting late in the afternoon.
Miette’s hands as she clutched Dorothy’s were as cold as ice!
“You must hurry,” demanded Dorothy. “This girl is going to faint!”
At this the man unlocked the door--just as Miette fell senseless on the floor.
[Illustration: Miette fell senseless on the floor _Page 199_]
“There!” gasped Dorothy, “are you satisfied now? Get me some water, quick! Then call that woman--tell her she must come in here or--or I’ll have both of you tried for this!”
Dorothy scarcely knew what she said. Miette had fainted--and she must be revived!
What did it matter what she said to that cruel old man?
He shuffled off to the door and again called “Mary.” Presently a stout and rather pleasant-looking woman appeared at the door.
“My good gracious!” she exclaimed, dropping down beside the unconscious girl. “What in the world does this mean? Father what have you been doing?”
“He has made a mistake, that is all,” replied Dorothy, with her usual alertness. “This girl has fainted--we must get her outside.”
The young woman picked up the limp form as if it was that of a baby. She laid Miette gently on the old sofa near the door.
“Telephone for a doctor, dad, quick,” she directed.
“If it’s only a faint,” the officer objected, “why can’t--”
“I said a doctor, and quick,” called the woman again. “Do you want to have a dead girl on your hands?”
This roused the man to a sense of duty. It was hard to call in Doctor Van Moren, under these circumstances, (the doctor happened to be mayor of the borough) but it would be better than having “a dead girl” in the station house.
Miette was stirring and Dorothy felt she would soon rally--but it would be well to have a doctor, he might help get them out of the place. Certainly Dorothy needed some help, and needed it badly.