Great Heaven,
young woman, you ought to be on your knees before a miracle of God!
Instead, you've mounted a marble pedestal and worshipped your own
purity!"
Annesley bowed her head under a wave of shame. _This_ man, of all others,
had shown her a vision of herself as she was. It seemed that she could
never lift her eyes. But suddenly, into the crying of the wind, a shot
broke sharply; then another and another, till the sobbing wail was lost
in a crackling fusillade.
The girl leaped to her feet.
"Raiders!" she gasped. "Or else----"
Paul Van Vreck sprang up also, his face paler, his eyes brighter than
before.
"They've come after me," he said. "Clever trick--if they've bribed
ruffians from over the border to cover their ends. The real errand's
here, inside this house."
Annesley's heart faltered.
"You must hide," she breathed. "I must save you--somehow."
"Why should you save _me_?" Van Vreck asked, sharply. "Why not think
about saving yourself?"
"Because I know Knight would wish to save you," she answered. "I want to
do what he would do.... God help us, they're coming nearer! Take your
bag, and I'll hide you in the cellar.
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