His manner was
masterful.
"There can be and there will be," he contradicted. He raised his
voice a little, speaking into the shadows where was the group of
silent men.
"You men back there!" he cried. "If I give you my word to let
every one of you go free and pledge myself never to recognize one
of you again, will you make Mary here listen to me? That's all I
ask. I want a few minutes to state my case. Give me that.
Whether I win or lose, you men go free, and I'll forget
everything that has happened here to-night." There came a
muffled guffaw of laughter from the big chest of Chicago Red at
this extraordinarily ingenuous proposal, while Dacey chuckled
more quietly.
Dick made a gesture of impatience at this open derision.
"Tell them I can be trusted," he bade Mary curtly.
It was Garson who answered.
"I know that you can be trusted," he said, "because I know you
lo----" He checked himself with a shiver, and out of the darkness
his face showed white.
"You must listen," Dick went on, facing again toward the girl,
who was trembling before him, her eyes by turns searching his
expression or downcast in unfamiliar confusion, which she herself
could hardly understand.
Pages:
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315