She went back a step, one hand went to
her breast, her lips formed the syllable "You!"--but no sound came from
them. Every vestige of color faded from her face.

Evan's gaze burned her up; she was so beautiful, and she had injured
him so! "So you're a member of the gang!" he said mockingly.

Corinna quickly recovered her forces. She shrugged disdainfully.

"And even the chief, it seems!"

"So it seems."

Amazement overcame him afresh. "You--you little thing!" he cried. "I
cannot believe it!"

Corinna affected to look bored.

"So this was the real work of the brotherhood!" Evan went on.
"Blackmail. This was why you couldn't fire them when they threatened
you. A new way to raise money for philanthropic purposes, I swear! To
hold up a usurer with one hand, and feed poor children with the other!"

"A usurer, yes," said Corinna contemptuously. "Your master!"

"That doesn't get under my skin," retorted Evan coolly. "No man is my
master a day longer than I choose." He dissolved in amazement again.
"But you! To think up such a scheme! To carry it out!"

"Oh, spare me your bleating!" said Corinna impatiently. "What are you
going to do about it?"

"Turn you over to the police," he said promptly.

"Three of my friends are sleeping across the hall," she said.

So perfect was her aplomb that Evan was taken aback. He half turned,
uncertainly. But as he did so, out of the tail of his eye he saw
Corinna's hand go to her bosom. He whirled back with the gun in his
hand again. A woman is at a serious disadvantage in drawing.

"Put your gun on the box," commanded Evan.

"I have no gun!" she cried. "I will not be spoken to so."

Evan took a step nearer her. His eyes glittered. "Put your gun on the
box. Don't oblige me to use force. I should enjoy it far too well!"

With a sob of rage, she drew a little pistol from her dress and threw
it on the box. Evan possessed himself of it.

"Now we'll see about the three friends across the hall," he said
mockingly.

He backed out of the room. Corinna followed to the door. In her eye
he read her purpose to make a dash for liberty down the stairs, and he
took care to give her no opening. He flung open the door opposite and
flashed his light inside the room. It was empty of course. He
returned across the hall, and Corinna backed into the lighted room
before him.

"They have stepped out, it seems," he said mockingly.

Corinna disdained to reply. Lik