e a child, she was not in the least
abashed when her bluff was called, but immediately set her wits to work
to think of another.

"How do you purpose taking me to the police?" she asked scornfully.

"I'm not going to take you. They're coming here."

Corinna changed color. She studied his face narrowly. Evidently she
decided that he was bluffing now, for she tossed her head.

"Go and sit down on the cot," he said coolly, "so we can talk quietly."

"I will not!" cried Corinna. "How dare you speak to me so!"

He was delighted with the spirit she showed. "It's too bad no one did
it long ago," he said provokingly.

He approached her, and his eyes glittered again. Corinna, seething
with rage, retreated, and plumped herself down on the cot.

"That's better," he said indulgently. He took the small box and,
placing it against the wall, sat down and leaned back. Producing his
pipe he filled it in leisurely style, affecting to be unconscious of
her. Corinna's eyes blazed on him.

"Well, what have you to say for yourself?" he drawled at last. "You
pretty little blackmailer!"

"You needn't insult me!" cried Corinna. Her eyes filled with angry
tears.

But Evan's heart was hard. "Insult you!" he cried. "I like that!
What have you been doing to me lately?"

"If you were capable of thinking, you would see that I could not have
acted otherwise!" she said.

"You have me there," said Evan coolly. "For I don't see the necessity
of being a blackmailer."

Corinna jumped up and stamped her foot. Her face reddened, and two
large tears rolled down her cheeks. "Don't you dare to use that word
to me again, you fool!"

Evan laughed delightedly. "Why shy at the word and commit the deed?"

"You know nothing of the circumstances!" she stormed. "You have
neither sense nor feeling! You take all your ideas ready made from
others. You are as empty as a drum!"

"Bravo!" he cried. "Keep it up if it makes you feel any better!"

"If it is a crime to extort money from a foul old robber and give it to
the poor, all right, I'm a criminal! I glory in it! I would do it all
over again!"

"I don't deny one has a sneaking sympathy with a life of crime," Evan
said, affecting a judicial air. "But after all, law is law. You have
to make your choice. I chose to stay inside the law, and naturally I
have to uphold it like everybody on my side."

"You're a nice upholder of the law!" she cried. "You're just trying to
get b