That eased my mind. A day more or less--what was
that? ... But they were somehow strange about you. Then Mrs. Dillon
told me how the chief had been disappointed in you--how he had
needed you--how he must have you back."
"Good Lord! Getting me back would have been easy enough if they had
only told me!" exclaimed Neale, impatiently.
"Dear, maybe that was just it. I suspect General Lodge cared enough
for you to want you to come back to your job for your sake--for his
sake--for sake of the railroad. And not for me."
"Aha!" breathed Neale, softly. "I wonder! ... Allie, how cheap, how
little I felt awhile ago, when he talked to me. I never was so
ashamed in my life. He called me.... But that's over.... You said
Durade had you. Allie, that scares me to death."
"It scares me, too," she replied. "For I'm in more danger hidden
here than when he had me."
"Oh no! How can that be?"
"He would kill me for running away," she shuddered, paling. "But
while I was with him, obedient--I don't think he would have done me
harm. I'm more afraid now than when I was his prisoner."
"I'll take a bunch of soldiers and go after Durade," said Neale,
grimly.
"No. Don't do that. Let him alone. Just get me away safely, far out
of his reach."
"But, Allie, that's not possible now," declared Neale, "I'm
certainly not going to lose sight of you, now I've got you again.
Pages:
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286