Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/223

A REBEL STILL durst not venture a movement which would tempt her to carry out her threat.

"Miss Denslow," I protested helplessly, "I have tried to serve you, have trusted you—is this the act of a friend?"

"No," she answered sharply, "this is war. There is nothing between us—nothing which can change my purpose. As God is my witness, if you do not go, I fire."

It was useless to argue, dangerous to delay. The desperation of the girl was evident enough, and, in her present mood, she would probably hesitate at nothing. Step by step we drew back across the threshold, the black muzzle following us steadily, the girl's eye sighting along the barrel, her every nerve apparently strained to the utmost, yet steady with resolve. An instant we remained thus, neither O'Brien nor I daring to change our posture, then, holding the deadly gun still posed, she swung shut the door with her foot, and the lock clicked, leaving us in total darkness.

"The infernal little divil!" he burst forth, finding his tongue in a sudden rush of passion. "The purring cat! Damn me, but I'd loike to git me hands on her for a minute."

"You might as well stop that, O'Brien," I interrupted sternly. "The girl did nothing but her duty. We were fools to give her the chance, and I especially, for I tested her mettle before. The thing for us now is to find some way out, before Donald leads the way in and takes our men in the rear. Feel around, and find out what this room is like." [ 209 ]