第37章

"Don't you think you'd better get out of this?"I asked Obermuller,as he came into the station a few minutes after I got there.

"No."

"I do."

"Because?"

"Because it won't do you any good to have your name mixed up with a thing like this.""But it might do you some good."

I didn't answer for a minute after that.I sat in my chair,my eyes bent on the floor.I counted the cracks between the chair and the floor of the office where the Chief was busy with another case.I counted them six times,back and forth,till my eyes were clear and my voice was steady.

"You're awfully good,"I said,looking up at him as he stood by me."You're the best fellow I ever knew.I didn't know men could be so good to women.But you'd better go--please.It'll be bad enough when the papers get hold of this,without having them lump you in with a bad lot like me."He put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a quick little shake.

"Don't say that about yourself.You're not a bad lot.""But--you saw the purse."

"Yes,I saw it.But it hasn't proved anything to me but this:you're innocent,Nance,or you're crazy.If it's the first,Iwant to stand by you,little girl.If it's the second--good God!

I've got to stand by you harder than ever."

Can you see me sitting there,Mag,in the bright,bare little room,with its electric lights,still in my white dress and big white hat,my pretty jacket fallen on the floor beside me?

I could feel the sharp blue eyes of that detective Morris feeding on my miserable face.But I could feel,too,a warmth like wine poured into me from that big fellow's voice.

I put my hand up to him and he took it.

"If I'm innocent and can prove it,Fred Obermuller,I'll get even with you for--for this.""Do you want to do something for me now?"

"Do I?"

"Well,if you want to help me,don't sit there looking like the criminal ghost of the girl I know."The blood rushed to my face.Nance Olden,a sniveling coward!Me,showing the white feather--me,whimpering like a whipped puppy--me--Nance Olden!

"You know,"I smiled up at him,"I never did enjoy getting caught.""Hush!But that's better.Tell me now--"A buzzer sounded.The blue-eyed detective got up and came over to me.

"Chief's ready,"he said."This way."

They stopped Obermuller at the door.But he pushed past them.

"I want to say just a word to you,Chief,"he said."You remember me.I'm Obermuller,of the Vaudeville.If you'll send those fellows out and let me speak to you just a moment,I'll leave you alone with Miss Olden."The Chief nodded to the blue-eyed detective,and he and the other fellow went out and shut the door behind them.

"I want simply to call your attention to the absurdity and unreasonableness of this thing,"Obermuller said,leaning up against the Chief's desk,while he threw out his left hand with that big open gesture of his,"and to ask you to bear in mind,no matter what appearances may be,that Miss Olden is the most talented girl on the stage to-day;that in a very short time she will be at the top;that just now she is not suffering for lack of money;that she's not a high-roller,but a determined,hard-working little grind,and that if she did feel like taking a plunge,she knows that she could get all she wants from me even--""Even if you can't pay salaries when they're due,Obermuller."The Chief grinned under his white mustache.

"Even though the Trust is pushing me to the wall;going to such lengths that they're liable criminally as well as civilly,if Icould only get my hands on proof of their rascality.It's true Ican't pay salaries always when they're due,but I can still raise a few hundred to help a friend.And Miss Olden is a friend of mine.If you can prove that she took this money,you prove only that she's gone mad,but you don't--""All right,Obermuller.You're not the lawyer for the defense.

That'll come later--if it does come.I'll be glad to bear in mind all you've said,and much that you haven't.""Thank you.Good night.I'll wait for you,Nance,outside.""I'm going to ask you a lot of questions,Miss Olden,"the old Chief said,when we were alone."Sit here,please.Morris tells me you've got more nerve than any woman that's ever come before me,so I needn't bother to reassure you.You don't look like a girl that's easily frightened.I have heard how you danced in the lobby of the Manhattan,how you guyed him at your flat,and were getting lunch and having a regular picnic of a time when--""When he found that purse."

"Exactly.Now,why did you do all that?"

"Why?Because I felt like it.I felt gay and excited and--""Not dreaming that that purse was sure to be found?""Not dreaming that there was such a purse in existence except from the detective's say--so,and never fancying for an instant that it would be found in my flat.""Hm!"He looked at me from under his heavy,wrinkled old lids.

You don't get nice eyes from looking on the nasty things in this world,Mag.

"Why,"I cried,"what kind of a girl could cut up like that when she was on the very edge of discovery?""A very smart girl--an actress;a good one;a clever thief who's used to bluffing.Of course,"he added softly,"you won't misunderstand me.I'm simply suggesting the different kinds of girl that could have done what you did.But,if you don't mind,I'll do the questioning.Nance Olden,"he turned suddenly on me,his manner changed and threatening,"what has become of that three hundred dollars?""Mr.Chief,you know just as much about that as I do."I threw up my head and looked him full in the face.It was over now--all the shivering and trembling and fearing.Nance Olden's not a coward when she's fighting for her freedom;and fighting alone without any sympathizing friend to weaken her.

He returned the look with interest.

"I may know more,"he said insinuatingly.

"Possibly."I shrugged my shoulders.

No,it wasn't put on.There never yet was a man who bullied me that didn't rouse the fighter in me.I swore to myself that this old thief-catcher shouldn't rattle me.