We were all rather sorry for him, but if we had made him uncomfortable,
think of what he had done to us. And for him to tell, as he did later in
court, that if that was high society he would rather be a burglar, and
that we starved him, and that the women had to dress each other because
they had no lady's maids, and that the whole lot of us were in love with
one man, it was downright malicious.
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 ejaculated. "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 damn 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.