e last day had graven with unfamiliar
lines; and when he saw her he threw up his hand so that it almost
brushed the ceiling, and cried out.

What could she do? Try to push him away; to explain?

There was nothing to be done. She had to submit when he swept her into
his arms.

"Rix has told me. Rix has told me. Ah, Nell, you little fox!"

"Told you what, Nick?"

Was he, too, a party to the murderous plan?

But he allowed himself to be pushed away.

"I've gone through something in the last few days. Why did you do it,
girl?"

She saw suddenly that she must continue to play her part.

"Some day I'll tell you why it was that I gave you up so easily, Nell.
You thought I was afraid of Donnegan?" He ground his teeth and turned
pale at the thought. "But that wasn't it. Some day I can tell you. But
after this, the first man who comes between us--Donnegan or any
other--I'll turn him into powder--under my heel!"

He ground it into the floor as he spoke. She decided that she would see
how much he knew.

"It will never be Donnegan, at least," she said. "He's done for today.
And I'm almost sorry for him in spite of all that he's done."

He became suddenly grave.

"What are you saying, Nell?"

"Why, Joe told you, didn't he? They've drawn Donnegan out of town, and
now they're lying in wait for him. Yes, they must have him, by this
time. It's ten o'clock!"

A strangely tense exclamation broke from Lord Nick. "They've gone for
Donnegan?"

"Yes. Are you angry?"

The big man staggered; one would have said that he had been stunned with
a blow.

"Garry!" he whispered.

"What are you saying?"

"Nell," he muttered hoarsely, "did you know about it?"

"But I did it for you, Nick. I knew you hated--"

"No, no! Don't say it!" He added bitterly, after a moment. "This is for
my sins."

And then, to her: "But you knew about it and didn't warn him? You hated
him all the time you were laughing with him and smiling at him? Oh,
Nell! What a merciless witch of a woman you are! For the rest of
them--I'll wait till they come back!"

"What are you going to do, Nick?"

"I told them I'd pay the man who killed Donnegan--with lead. Did the
fools think I didn't mean it?"

Truly, no matter what shadow had passed over the big man, he was the
lion again, and Nell shrank from him.

"We'll wait for them," he said. "We'll wait for them here."

And they sat down together in the room. She attempted to speak once in a
shaken voice,