And after he had left her there alone, I heard a sort of scratching on the door behind Miss Summers’ back, and then something being shoved under the door.  I stooped down and picked it up.  It was a key!

I struck a match, and I saw by the tag that it was the one to the old doctor’s rooms.  I knew right off what it meant.  Mr. Pierce had gone to bed, or pretended to throw them off the track and Thoburn had locked him in!  Thoburn hadn’t taken any chances.  He knew the influence Mr. Pierce had over them all, and he and his champagne and tin cans had to get in their work before Mr. Pierce had another chance at them.

I had no time to wonder how Miss Summers knew I was in the pantry.  I tried the window again, but it wouldn’t work.  Somebody in the spring-house was shouting, “’Hot butter blue beans, please come to supper!’” and I could hear them crowding around the tables.  I worked frantically with the hairpin, and just then two shadowy figures outside slipped around the corner of the building.  It was Mr. Pierce and Doctor Barnes!

I darted back and put my ear to the door, but they did not come in at once.  Mr. Thoburn made a speech, saying how happy he was that they were all well and able to go back to civilization again, where the broiled lobster flourished like a green bay tree and the prune and the cabbage were unknown.

There was loud applause, and then Senator Biggs cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished fellow guests,” he began, “I suggest a toast to the autocrat of Hope Springs.  It is the only blot on the evening, that, owing to the exigencies of the occasion, he can not be with us.  Securely fastened in his room, he is now sleeping the sleep that follows a stomach attuned to prunes, a mind attuned to rule.”

“Eat, drink and be merry!” somebody said, “for to-morrow you diet!”

There was a swish and rustle, as if a woman got up in a hurry.

“Do you mean,” said Miss Patty’s clear voice, “that you have dared to lock Mr. Pier—­Mr. Carter in his room?”

“My dear young lady,” several of them began, but she didn’t give them time.

“It is outrageous, infamous!” she stormed.  I didn’t need to see her to know how she looked.

“How dare you!  Suppose the building should catch fire!”

“Fire!” somebody said in a bewildered voice.  “My dear young lady—­”

“Don’t ‘my dear young lady’ me,” she said angrily.  “Father, Bishop, will you stand for this?  Why, he may jump out the window and hurt himself!  Give me the key!”

Miss Julia’s fingers were beating a tatoo behind her, as if she was afraid I might miss it.

“If he jumps out he probably will hurt himself.  It is impossible to release him now, Miss Jennings, but if you insist we can have a mattress placed under the window.”

“Thanks, Thoburn.  It won’t be necessary.”  The voice came from the door, and a hush fell on the party.  I slipped my bolt and peeped out.  Framed in the doorway was Mr. Pierce, with Doctor Barnes looking over his shoulder.