Pagina 351 di 439

He put out a hand to stop her, and she drew back as if his touch

were pollution. From the other side of the room, she looked

across at him in bitter scorn.

"I shall make arrangements to have you taken out of the valley at

once, sir."

"You needn't take the trouble, Miss Arlie. I'm not going out of

the valley. If you'll have me taken to Alec Howard's shack, which

is where you brought me from, I'll be under obligations to you."

"Whatever you are, I'm not going to have your blood on my hands.

You've got to leave the valley."

"I have to thank you for all your kindness to me. If you'd extend

it a trifle further and listen to what I've got to say, I'd be

grateful."

"I don't care to hear your excuses. Go quickly, sir, before you

meet the end you deserve, and give up the poor men I have

betrayed to you." She spoke in a choked voice, as if she could

scarce breathe.

"If you'd only listen before you----"