Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/222



HE girl's eyes looked almost black over the shining barrel, her lips compressed and resolute. I could see the uplifted hammer, the finger upon the trigger, and realized that the mountain spirit, now thoroughly aroused, made her truly dangerous. And she had determined upon her course.

"Don't move, either of you, except to my orders," her voice sounding hard and metallic, as we stared at her in our first surprise. "O'Brien, reach back and open that door at your left; no, don't move your body; you can reach it with your hand."

He did so, his motion that of an automaton, his eyes fastened on the black muzzle of the gun. Dazed, stupefied, angry as I was, I could not deny the admiration I felt for her cool action. The polished barrel of the carbine never trembled, the watchful eyes never left us, the girl face was white but determined.

"Now move backward into that room, both of you. Lieutenant King, if you drop your hand to your belt I shall have to fire."

I did not believe she would; I could not think it in her nature to do so; besides, the alarm of the discharge would defeat her plans. Yet I durst not risk the experiment; [ 208 ]