Neither of them mentioned the obvious corollary, that conviction and execution would be almost simultaneous.  It must have been uppermost in Gladys’s mind; she leaned over and put her hand on Rand’s arm.

“Jeff, would it help any if I stayed home, instead of going to church?” she asked.  “I’m a pretty fair pistol-shot.  Lane taught me.  I can stay over ninety at slow fire, and in the eighties at timed-and-rapid.  If I hid somewhere with a target pistol—­”

“Absolutely not!” Rand vetoed emphatically.  “I’m not saying that because I’m afraid you might stop a slug yourself.  You’re a big girl, now; you can take your own chances.  But if you stayed home, he wouldn’t make a move.  You and Geraldine and Nelda have to be out of the house before he’ll feel safe coming out of the grass.”

“Watch it!” Ritter warned.  “Yes, ma’am; at once, ma’am.”

Nelda came in and sat down.  Ritter held her chair and fussed over her, finding out what she wanted to eat.  He was bringing in her fruit when Varcek and Geraldine entered.  Nelda was inquiring if Rand wanted to come to church with them.

“No; I’m one of the boys the chaplain couldn’t find in the foxholes,” Rand said.  “I’m going to put in a quiet morning on the collection.  If nobody gets murdered or arrested in the meantime, that is.”

Geraldine looked woebegone; her hands were trembling.  “My God, do I have a hangover!” she moaned.  “Walters, for heaven’s sake, fix me up something, quick!” Then she saw Ritter.  “Who the devil are you?” she demanded.  “Where’s Walters?”

“Out on bail,” Rand told her.  “Don’t you remember?”

“Oh, you did this to me!” she accused.  “Walters could always fix me up, in the morning.  Now what am I going to do?”

“You might stop drinking,” her husband suggested mildly.

“Oh, just stop breathing; that would be better all around,” Nelda interposed.

Ritter coughed delicately.  “Begging your pardon, ma’am, but I’ve always rawther fawncied myself for an expert on morning-awfter tonics.  If you’ll wait a moment—­”

He departed on his errand of mercy, returning shortly with a highball glass filled with some dark, evil-looking potion.  He set it on the table in front of the sufferer and poured her a cup of coffee.

“Now, ma’am; just try this.  Take it gradually, if I may suggest.  Don’t attempt to gulp it; it’s quite strong, ma’am.”

Geraldine tasted it and pulled a Gorgon-face.  Encouraged by Ritter, she managed to down about half of the mixture.

“Splendid, ma’am; splendid!” he cheered her on.  “Now, drink your coffee, ma’am, and then finish it.  That’s right, ma’am.  And now, more coffee.”

Geraldine struggled through with the black draft and drank the second cup of coffee.  As she set down the empty cup, she even managed to smile.

“Why, that’s wonderful!” She lit a cigarette.  “What is it?  I feel as though I might live, after all.”