Page:Hard-pan; a story of bonanza fortunes (IA hardpanbonanza00bonnrich).pdf/151

Rh dered by her own pain and sympathy for his obvious suffering. "No, it was I. I asked him if the colonel got money from other men, and he—he did n't say much; he laughed and said, 'Well, I should snicker!'"

"Thank you," answered Gault, in a low voice. "Good night."

He turned and left the room, and a moment later the hall door closed behind him with a muffled bang.

For a space Letitia stood motionless as a statue, a tall and splendid figure in her gleaming dress, on which fine lines of interwoven silver-work caught and lost the light. Then, rousing herself, she moved about heavily but methodically, putting out the remaining lights. When they were all extinguished she crossed the hall and slowly ascended the stairway, the silken whisperings of her skirts being the only sound in the sleeping house.