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.
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