person," she said. "Do you feel
it is necessary to keep up my courage with pretty speeches?"

"I made no pretty speech," said Ford. "I proclaimed a fact. You are the
most charming person that ever came into my life, and whether Prothero
shoots us up, or whether we live to get back to God's country, you will
never leave it."

The girl pretended to consider his speech critically. "It would be
almost a compliment," she said, "if it were intelligent, but when you
know nothing of me--it is merely impertinent."

"I know this much of you," returned Ford, calmly; "I know you are fine
and generous, for your first speech to me, in spite of your own danger,
was for my safety. I know you are brave, for I see you now facing death
without dismay."

He was again suddenly halted by, two sharp reports. They came from
the room directly below them. It was no longer possible to pretend to
misinterpret their significance.

"Prothero!" exclaimed Ford, "and his pistol!"

They waited breathlessly for what might follow: an outcry, the sound of
a body falling, a third pistol-shot. But throughout the house there was
silence.

"If you really think we are in such danger," declared Miss Dale, "we are
wasting time!"

"We are NOT wasting time," protested Ford; "we are really gaining time,
for each minute Cuthbert and the police are drawing nearer, and to move
about only invites a bullet. And, what is of more importance," he went
on quickly, as though to turn her mind from the mysterious pistol-shots,
"should we get out of this alive, I shall already have said what under
ordinary conditions I might not have found the courage to tell you in
many months." He waited as though hopeful of a reply, but Miss Dale
remained silent. "They say," continued Ford, "when a man is drowning his
whole life passes in review. We are drowning, and yet I find I can see
into the past no further than the last half-hour. I find life began only
then, when I looked through the bars of that window and found YOU!"

With the palm of her hand the girl struck the floor sharply. "This is
neither the time," she exclaimed, "nor the place to----"

"I did not choose the place," Ford pointed out. "It was forced upon me
with a gun. But the TIME is excellent. At such a time one speaks only
what is true."

"You certainly have a strange sense of humor," she said, "but when you
are risking your life to help me, how can I be angry?"

"Of course you can't," Ford agreed heartily; "y