Beth Norvell - Page 27/177

"What is it?"

"Are you aware that both Albrecht and Lane have skipped out?"

"Why, no," her cheeks suddenly paling, her fingers clasping the edge of

the door. "Do you mean they have deserted us here to--to take care of

ourselves?"

He nodded. "Yes, that's about it. What I came to ask was, does that

fellow owe you any money?"

For an instant she hesitated, as if in lingering distrust of his exact

purpose, her lips parted, her face still plainly picturing the shock of

discovery.

"What difference can that possibly make now? Why do you require to

know?"

"Because I half believe you have been left penniless. Albrecht has not

even spoken about any pay to me since I joined the company; and when I

learned he had deliberately left us stalled here, my first thought was

of your unpleasant situation if my suspicions proved true."

"If they were, what is there you can do?"

"The hotel clerk says it is possible to reach the Junction on horseback

before any trains leave there on the main line. I propose to make him

disgorge, but I must know first exactly how things stand. Have you any

money?"

She stood gazing at him, her anger, shame, all forgotten in the

fascination of Winston's determined face. For the first time she

thoroughly comprehended the cool, compelling power of this man, and it

mastered her completely. She felt no longer the slightest doubt of

what he purposed doing, and her woman heart swelled responsively to his

masculine strength.

"I--I have n't got a dollar," she confessed simply, her lashes drooping

over her lowered eyes.

"What does that fellow owe you?"

"Two hundred and sixty dollars; he has merely dribbled out what little

I have been actually compelled to ask for."

A moment he remained standing there, breathing hard. Once she ventured

to glance up inquiringly, only to catch his stern eyes, and as

instantly lower her own.

"All right, Miss Norvell," he said finally, the words seeming fairly to

explode from between his lips. "I understand the situation now, and

you are to remain here until I come back. I 'll get your money, don't

fear, if I have to trail him clear to Denver, but I 'll take what

little the miserable thief owes me out of his hide."

The next moment he was down below in the office rapidly preparing for

action, and Miss Norvell, leaning far out across the banister, listened

to his quick, nervous words of instruction with an odd thrill of pride

that left her cheeks crimson.