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nights； I'm a blamed poor prophet。〃
Bannister nodded agreement。 〃He's near the end of his rope。 He could
see that if he were blind。 When we captured Bostwick and they got a
confession out of him； that started the landslide against him。 It began to be
noised abroad that the government was going to wipe him out。 Folks
began to lose their terror of him； and after that his whole outfit began to
want to turn State's evidence。 He isn't sure of one of them now； can't tell
when he will be shot in the back by one of his own scoundrels for that two
thousand dollars reward。〃
The foreman strolled negligently to the door。 His eyes drifted
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indolently down into the valley； and immediately sparkled with
excitement。
〃The signal's out； Bann；〃 he exclaimed。 〃It's in your window。〃
The sheepman leaped to his feet and strode to the door。 Down in the
valley a light was gleaming in a window。 Even while he looked another
light appeared in a second window。
〃She wants us both；〃 cried the foreman； running to the little corral
back of the house。
He presently reappeared with two horses； both saddled； and they took
the downward trail at once。
〃If Miss Helen can keep him in play till we arrive；〃 murmured Mac
anxiously。
〃She can if he gives her a chance； and I think he will。 There's a kind of
cat instinct in him to play with his prey。〃
〃Yes； but he missed his kill last time by letting her fool him。 That's
what I'm afraid of' that he won't wait。〃
They had reached lower ground now； and could put their ponies at a
pounding gallop that ate up the trail fast。 As they approached the houses；
both men drew rein and looked carefully to their weapons。 Then they slid
from the saddles and slipped noiselessly forward。
What the foreman had said was exactly true。 Helen Messiter did want
them both； and she wanted them very much indeed。
After supper she had been dreamily playing over to herself one of
Chopin's waltzes； when she became aware； by some instinct； that she was
not alone in the room。 There had been no least sound； no slightest stir to
betray an alien presence。 Yet that some one was in the room she knew； and
by some subtle sixth sense could even put a name to the intruder。
Without turning she called over her shoulder： 〃Shall I finish the
waltz？〃 No faintest tremor in the clear； sweet voice betrayed the racing
heart。
〃Y'u're a cool hand； my friend；〃 came his ready answer。 〃But I think
we'll dispense with the music。 I had enough last time to serve me for
twice。〃
She laughed as she swung on the stool； with that musical scorn which
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both allured and maddened。 〃I did rather do you that time；〃 she allowed。
〃This is the return match。 You won then。 I win now；〃 he told her； with
a look that chilled。
〃Indeed！ But isn't that rather discounting the future？〃
〃Only the immediate future。 Y'u're mine； my beauty； and I mean to
take y'u with me。〃
Just a disdainful sweep of her eyes she gave him as she rose from the
piano…stool and rearranged the lamps。 〃You mean so much that never
comes to pass； Mr。 Bannister。 The road to the nether regions is paved with
good intentions； we are given to understand。 Not that yours can by any
stretch of imagination be called 'good intentions。'〃
〃Contrariwise； then； perhaps the road to heaven may be paved with
evil intentions。 Since y'u travel the road with me； wherever it may lead； it
were but gallant to hope so。〃
He took three sharp steps toward her and stood looking down in her
face； her sweet slenderness so close to him that the perfume mounted to
his brain。 Surely no maiden had ever been more desirable than this one；
who held him in such contemptuous estimation that only her steady eyes
moved at his approach。 These held to his and defied him； while she stood
leaning motionless against the table with such strong and supple grace。
She knew what he meant to do； hated him for it； and would not give him
the satisfaction of flying an inch from him or struggling with him。
〃Your eyes are pools of splendor。 That's right。 Make them flash fire。 I
love to see such spirit； since it offers a more enticing pleasure in
breaking；〃 he told her； with an admiration half ironic but wholly genuine。
〃Pools of splendor； my beauty！ Therefore I salute them。〃
At the touch of his lips upon her eyelids a shiver ran through her； but
still she made no movement； was cold to him as marble。 〃You coward！〃
she said softly； with an infinite contempt。
〃Your lips；〃 he continued to catalogue； 〃are ripe as fresh flesh of
Southern fruit。 No cupid ever possessed so adorable a mouth。 A worshiper
of Eros I； as now I prove。〃
This time it was the mouth he kissed； the while her unconquered spirit
looked out of the brave eyes； and fain would have murdered him。 In turn
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he kissed her cold cheeks； the tip of one of her little ears； the small；
clenched fist with which she longed to strike him。
〃Are you quite through？〃
〃For the present； and now； having put the seal of my ownership on her
more obvious charms； I'll take my bride home。〃
〃I would die first。〃
〃Nay； you'll die later； Madam Bannister； but not for many years； I
hope；〃 he told her； with a theatrical bow。
〃Do you think me so weak a thing as your words imply？〃
〃Rather so strong that the glory of overcoming y'u fills me with joy。
Believe me； madam； though your master I am not less your slave；〃 he
mocked。
〃You are neither my master nor my slave； but a thing I detest；〃 she said；
in a low voice that carried extraordinary intensity。
〃And obey；〃 he added； suavely。 〃Come； madam； to horse； for our
honeymoon。〃
〃I tell you I shall not go。〃
〃Then； in faith； we'll re…enact a modern edition of 'The Taming of the
Shrew。' Y'u'll find me； sweet； as apt at the part as old Petruchio。〃 He paced
complacently up the room and back； and quoted glibly：
〃And thus I'll curb her mad and headstrong humor。 He that knows
better how to tame a shrew； Now let him； speak； 'tis charity to show。〃
〃Would you take me against my will？〃
〃Y'u have said it。 What's your will to me？ What I want I take。 And I
sure want my beautiful shrew。〃 His half…shuttered eyes gloated on her as
he rattled off a couple more lines from the play he had mentioned。
〃Kate； like the hazel…twig； Is straight and slender； and as brown in hue
As hazel…nuts； and sweeter than the kernels。〃
She let a swift glance travel anxiously to the door。 〃You are in a very
poetical mood to…day。〃
〃As befits a bridegroom； my own。〃 He stepped lightly to the window
and tapped twice on the pane。 〃A signal to bring the horses round。 If y'u
have any preparations to make； any trousseau to prepare； y'u better set that
girl of yours to work。〃
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〃I have no preparations to make。〃
〃Coming to me simply as y'u are？ Good！ We'll lead the simple life。〃
Nora； as it chanced； knocked and entered at his moment。 The sight of
her vivid good looks truck him for the first time。 At sight of him she
stopped； gazing with parted lips； a double row of pearls shining through。
He turned swiftly to the mistress。 〃Y'u ought not to be alone there
among so many men。 It wouldn't be proper。 We'll take the girl along with
us。〃
〃Where？〃 Nora's parted lips emitted。
〃To Arden； my dear。〃 He interrupted himself to look at his watch。 〃I
wonder why that fellow doesn't come with the horses。 They should pass
this window。
Bannister； standing jauntily with his feet astride as he looked out of the
window； heard someone enter the room。 〃Did y'u bring round the horses？〃
he snapped； without looking round。
〃NO； WE ALLOWED THEY WOULDN'T BE NEEDED。〃