ear. An owl was
very mournful in the hemlocks.

The girl turned from the window, looked at the door for a moment, then
her face flushed and she walked toward a chair and seated herself,
leaving the door unbolted.

For a little while she sat upright, alert, as though a little
frightened. After a few moments she folded her hands and sat
unstirring, with lowered head, awaiting Destiny.

* * * * *

It came, noiselessly. And so swiftly that the rush of air from her
violently opened door was what first startled her.

For in the same second Earl Leverett was upon her in his stockinged
feet, one bony hand gripping her mouth, the other flung around her,
pinning both arms to her sides.

"The packet!" he panted, "-- quick, yeh dirty little cat, 'r'I'll break
yeh head off'n yeh damn neck!"

She bit at the hand that he held crushed against her mouth. He lifted
her bodily, flung her onto the bed, and, twisting sheet and quilt around
her, swathed her to the throat.

Still controlling her violently distorted lips with his left hand and
holding her so, one knee upon her, he reached back, unsheathed his
hunting knife, and pricked her throat till the blood spurted.

"Now, gol ram yet!" he whispered fiercely, "where's Mike's packet?
Yell, and I'll hog-stick yeh fur fair! Where is it, you dum thing!"

He took his left hand from her mouth. The distorted, scarlet lips
writhed back, displaying her white teeth clenched.

"Where's Mike's bundle!" he repeated, hoarse with rage and fear.

"You rat!" she gasped.

At that he closed her mouth again, and again he pricket her with his
knife, cruelly. The blood welled up onto the sheets.

"Now, by God!" he said in a ghastly voice, "answer or I'll hog-stick yeh
next time! Where is it? Where! where!"

She only showed her teeth in answer. Her eyes flamed.

"Where! Quick! Gol ding yeh, I'll shove this knife in behind your ear
if you don't tell! Go on. Where is it? It's in this Dump som'ers. I
know it is -- don't lie! You want that I should stick you good? That
what you want -- you dirty little dump-slut? Well, then, gol ram yeh --
I'll fix yeh like Quintana was aimin' at----"

He slit the sheet downward from her imprisoned knees, seized one wounded
foot and tried to slash the bandages.

"I'll cut a coupla toes off'n yeh," he snarled, "-- I'll hamstring yeh
fur keeps!" -- struggling to mutilate her while she flung her helpless
and entangled body from side to side an