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Just an eyebeat her gaze met his； with that hint of shy questioning； of
puzzled doubt that showed a growing interest。 〃I wonder；〃 she murmured；
and recovered herself little laugh。
How she hated her task； and him！ She was a singularly honest woman；
but she must play the siren； must allure this scoundrel to forgetfulness；
with a hurried and yet elude the very familiarity her manner invited。 She
knew her part； the heartless enticing coquette； compounded half of passion
and half of selfishness。 It was a hateful thing to do； this sacrifice of her
personal reticence； of the individual abstraction in which she wrapped
herself as a cloak； in order to hint at a possibility of some intimacy of
feeling between them。 She shrank from it with a repugnance hardly to be
overcome； but she held herself with an iron will and consummate art to the
role she had undertaken。 Two lives hung on her success。 She must not
forget that。 She would not let herself forget thatand one of them that of
the man she loved。
So； bravely she played her part； repelling always with a hint of
invitation； denying with the promise in her fascinated eyes of ultimate
surrender to his ardor。 In the zest of the pursuit the minutes slipped away
unnoticed。 Never had a woman seemed to him more subtly elusive； and
never had he felt more sure of himself。 Her charm grew on him； stirred his
pulses to a faster beat。 For it was his favorite sport； and this warm； supple
young creature； who was to be the victim of his bow and arrow； showed
herself worthy of his mettle。
The clock downstairs struck the half…hour； and Bannister； reminded of
what lay before him outside； made a move to go。 Her alert eyes had been
expecting it； and she forestalled him by a change of tactics。 Moved
apparently by impulse； she seated herself on the piano…stool； swept the
keys for an instant with her fingers； and plunged into the brilliant
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〃Carmen〃 overture。 Susceptible as this man was to the influence of music；
he could not fail to be arrested by so perfect an interpretation of his mood。
He stood rooted； was carried back again in imagination to a great artiste's
rendering of that story of fierce passion and aching desire so brilliantly
enacted under the white sunbeat of a country of cloudless skies。
Imperceptibly she drifted into other parts of the opera。 Was it the wild；
gypsy seductiveness of _Carmen_ that he felt； or； rather； this American
girl's allurement？ From 〃Love will like a birdling fly〃 she slipped into the
exquisitely graceful snatches of song with which _Carmen_ answers the
officer's questions。 Their rare buoyancy marched with his mood； and from
them she carried him into the song 〃Over the hill；〃 that is so perfect and
romantic an expression of the _wanderlust。_
How long she could have held him she will never know； for at that
inopportune time came blundering one of his men into the room with a
call for his presence to take charge of the situation outside。
〃What do y'u want； Bostwick？〃 he demanded； with curt
peremptoriness。
The man whispered in his ear。
〃Can't wait any longer； can't they？〃 snapped his chief。 〃Y'u tell them
they'll wait till I give the word。 Understand？〃
He almost flung the man out of the room； but Helen noticed that she
had lost him。 His interest was perfunctory； and； though he remained a little
time longer； it was to establish his authority with the men rather than to
listen to her。 Twice he looked at his watch within five minutes。
He rose to go。 〃There is a little piece of business I have to put through。
So I'll have to ask y'u to excuse me。 I have had a delightful hour； and I
hate to go。〃 He smiled； and quoted with mock sentimentality：
〃The hours I spent with thee； dear heart； Are as a string of pearls to me；
I count them over； every one apart； My rosary！ My rosary！〃
〃Dear me！ One certainly lives and learns。 How could I have guessed
that； with your reputation； you could afford to indulge in a rosary？〃 she
mocked。
〃Good night。〃 He offered his hand。
〃Don't go yet；〃 she coaxed。
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He shook his head。 〃Duty； y'u know。〃
〃Stay only a little longer。 Just ten minutes more。〃
His vanity purred； so softly she stroked it。 〃Can't。 Wish I could。 Y'u
hear how noisy things are getting。 I've got to take charge。 So…long。〃
She stood close； looking up at him with a face of seductive appeal。
〃Don't go yet。 Please！〃
The triumph of victory mounted to his head。 〃I'll come back when I've
done what I've got to do。〃
〃No； no。 Stay a little longer just a little。〃
〃Not a minute； sweetheart。〃
He bent to kiss her； and a little clenched fist struck his face。
〃Don't you dare！〃 she cried。
The outraged woman in her； curbed all evening with an iron bit；
escaped from control。 Delightedly he laughed。 The hot spirit in her pleased
him mightily。 He took her little hands and held them in one of his while he
smiled down at her。 〃I guess that kiss will keep； my girl； till I come back。〃
〃My God！ Are you going to kill your own cousin？〃
All her terror； all her detestation and hatred of him； looked haggardly
out of her unmasked face。 His narrowed eyes searched her heart； and his
countenance grew every second more sinister；
〃Y'u have been fooling me all evening； then？〃
〃Yes； and hating you every minute of the time。〃
〃Y'u dared？〃 His face was black with rage。
〃You would like to kill me。 Why don't you？〃
〃Because I know a better revenge。 I'm going out to take it now。 After
your lover is dead； I'll come back and make love to y'u again；〃 he sneered。
〃Never！〃 She stood before him like a queen in her lissom； brave；
defiant youth。 〃And as for your cousin； you may kill him； but you can't
destroy his contempt for you。 He will die despising you for a coward and a
scoundrel。〃
It was true； and he knew it。 In his heart he cursed her； while he vainly
sought some weapon that would strike home through her impervious
armor。
〃Y'u love him。 I'll remember that when I see him kick；〃 he taunted。
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〃I make you a present of the information。 I love him； and I despise you。
Nothing can change those facts；〃 she retorted whitely。
〃Mebbe； but some day y'u'll crawl on your knees to beg my pardon for
having told me so。〃
〃There is your overweening vanity again；〃 she commented。
〃I'm going to break y'u； my beauty； so that y'u'll come running when I
snap my fingers。〃
〃We'll see。〃
〃And in the meantime I'll go hang your lover。〃 He bowed ironically；
swung on his jingling heel； and strode out of the room。
She stood there listening to his dying footfalls； then covered her face
with her hands； as if to press back the dreadful vision her mind conjured。
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CHAPTER 19。 WEST POINT TO
THE RESCUE
It was understood that the sheriff should make a perfunctory defense
against the mob in order to 〃square〃 him with the voters at the election
soon to be held。 But the word had been quietly passed that the bullets of
the prison guards would be fired over the heads of the attackers。 This
assurance lent an added braggadocio to the Dutch courage of the lynchers。
Many of them who would otherwise have hung back distinguished
themselves by the enthusiasm which they displayed。
Bannister himself generaled the affair； detailing squads to batter down
the outer door； to guard every side of the prison； and to overpower the
sheriff's guard。 That official； according to programme； appeared at a
window and made a little speech； declaring his intention of performing his
duty at whatever cost。 He was hooted down with jeers and laughter； and