I should have telegraphed you before nightfall to
return. But in the distraction of my search I did not give up till
midnight. I left a telegram at the office to be sent you the first
thing in the morning, but by that time you were here. It was a bold
escape, and I feel that we owe you much for it."
At her last words we were at the wharf, and landed free from fear.
An hour later I reached my lodgings, sore with fatigue, and half-dead
for want of sleep. The excitement that had spurred my strength for the
last enterprise no longer supported me. I slept twenty-four hours in
peace, and no dream of Doddridge Knapp's brother or of the snake-eyes
of Tom Terrill disturbed my repose.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE REWARD
"I've heard about you," said Luella, when on the next evening I made my
bow to her. "But I want to hear all about it from yourself. Tell me,
please."
"Where shall I begin?" I asked, looking into the most charming of
faces, which shone before me.
"How stupid to ask! At the beginning, of course."
"I was born of poor but honest parents"--I began.
Luella interrupted me with a laugh.
"How absurd you are! Anyhow, you can tell me about that later. Just
begin with the San Francisco beginning. Tell me why you came and all
about it."
"Very good," I said; "though really this part is much longer than the
other."
Then I told her the story of my coming, of the murder of Henry Wilton,
of the struggles with death and difficulty that had given the spice of
variety to my life since I had come across the continent.
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