"
"But if that warning might precipitate the danger?"
"Shall I go or stay?" she demanded, ignoring the equivocation.
Darrow considered.
"Stay," he decided at last. "I'll bet more than my life that I'm right,"
he muttered. "Now," he continued, a trifle more briskly, "be prepared
for fireworks. Unless I'm very much mistaken this little old town is
going variously and duly to be stood on its head at odd times soon.
That's the way I size it up. Don't be frightened; don't get caught
unprepared. I think we've had the whole bag of tricks. At almost any
moment we're likely to be cut off from all electricity, all sound, or
all light--never more than one at a time. I imagine we shall have ample
warning, but perhaps not. In any case, don't be frightened. It's harmless
in itself. Better stay home nights. You can reassure your friends if you
want to; but on no account get my name in this. If I am quoted, it will
do incalculable harm."
"Why not tell the public that it is harmless?" demanded Helen. "Think of
the anxiety, the accidents, the genuine terror it would save."
Darrow rose slowly to go. He walked quite deliberately over to Helen, and
faced her for a moment in silence.
"Helen," he said impressively at last, "I have talked freely with you
because I felt I could trust you. Believe me, I know the exigencies of
this case better than you do; and you must obey me in what I say.
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