Long Sin had been about to slip out of a side door,
thinking all was well, when he caught sight of Mary being led
back. She had also seen him, and began to struggle again.
Quickly he shook his head, indicating for her to stop. Then slowly
he secretly made the sign of the Clutching Hand at her. It meant
that she must not snitch.
She obeyed instantly, and he quietly disappeared.
"Here," cried Kennedy, "take her up in the elevator. I'll prove
the case."
With the house detective and Kennedy, Mary was hustled into the
elevator and whisked back as she had escaped.
In the meantime I had gathered up what stuff we had in the room we
had entered and had returned with Kennedy's bag.
"Wh--what's it all about?" inquired Elaine excitedly.
I tried to explain.
Just then, out in the hall we could hear loud voices, and that of
Mary above the rest. Kennedy, a man who looked like a detective,
and some bell-boys were leading her toward us.
"Now--not a word of who she is in the papers, McCann," Kennedy was
saying, evidently about Elaine. "You know it wouldn't sound well
for La Coste. As for that woman--well, I've got the money back.
You can take her off--make the charge."
As the house man left with Mary, I handed Craig his bag. We moved
toward the door, and as we stood there a moment with Elaine, he
quietly handed over to her the big roll of bills.
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