The wagon came for him just as he finished his story, and we all went to the door. In the vestibule Aunt Selina suddenly remembered something, and she stepped forward and caught the poor fellow by the arm.
"Young man," she said grimly. "I"ll thank you to return what you took from ME last Tuesday night."
McGuirk stared, then shuddered and turned suddenly pale.
"Good Lord!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "On the stairs to the roof! YOU?"
They led him away then, quite broken, with Aunt Selina staring after him. She never did understand. I could have explained, but it was too awful.
On the steps McGuirk turned and took a farewell glance at us. Then he waved his hand to the policemen and reporters who had gathered around.
"Goodby, fellows," he called feebly. "I ain"t sorry, I ain"t. Jail"ll be a paradise after this."
And then we went to pack our trunks.
NOTE FROM MAX WHICH CAME THE NEXT DAY WITH ITS ENCLOSURE.
My Dear Kit--The enclosed trunk tag was used on my trunk, evidently by mistake. Higgins discovered it when he was unpacking and returned it to me under the misapprehension that I had written it. I wish I had. I suppose there must be something attractive about a fellow who has the courage to write a love letter on the back of a trunk tag, and who doesn"t give a tinker"s d.a.m.n who finds it. But for my peace of mind, ask him not to leave another one around where I will come across it. Max.
WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF THE TRUNK TAG.
Don"t you know that I won"t see you until tomorrow? For Heaven"s sake, get away from this crowd and come into the den. If you don"t I will kiss you before everybody. Are you coming? T.
WRITTEN BELOW.
No indeed. K.
THIS WAS SCRATCHED OUT AND BENEATH.
Coming.