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Stevenson, Burton Egbert, 1872-1962

"The Gloved Hand"

"No, I believe not."
"How about breakfast?"
"I don't seem to remember about breakfast," he answered, after another
moment's thought.
I stepped to the door, called the guard, and, putting a bill into his
hand, asked him to send up the prison barber and to have a good meal
sent in in the course of half an hour. When the barber arrived, I had
him take Swain in hand, give him a shave and shampoo and general
freshening up. Then I saw that he got into clean things; and then the
breakfast arrived, and I made him sit down and eat. He obeyed
passively, and I could see the food did him good. When he had finished
his coffee, I handed him a cigar.
"Now, Swain," I began, sitting down opposite him, "I'm going to talk
to you seriously. In the first place, Miss Vaughan is in no danger.
Simmonds had two men in the grounds watching the house all last night,
ready to interfere at the least sign of anything wrong. That watch
will be kept up as long as Miss Vaughan remains there."
"That's good," he said. "I didn't know that. But just the same, she
mustn't remain there. Even with the men on guard, you may be too late."
"Just what is it you're afraid of?" I asked him, curiously.


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