Molly's flight.
"I don't know whether Mr. Kent is really a married man or not," she
added in conclusion. "Brady declares that he is."
"He is," replied Trent curtly. "Very much married. His first wife
divorced him, and, since then, he has married again."
"Oh----!" Sara half-rose from her seat, her face blanching. Not till
that moment did she realize how much in her inmost heart she had been
relying on the hope that Garth might be able to contradict Black Brady's
statement.
"Don't worry." Garth laid his hands on her shoulders and pushed her
gently back into her chair again. "Don't worry. Thanks to Brady's stroke
of genius about the petrol--I've evidently underestimated the man's good
points--I think I can promise you that you shall have Miss Molly safely
back at Sunnyside in the course of a few hours. That is, if you are
willing to trust me in the matter."
"Of course I will trust you," she answered simply. Somehow it seemed as
though a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders since she had
confided her trouble to Garth.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "Now, while Judson gets the car round, you
must have a glass of wine."
"No--oh, no!"--hastily--"I don't want anything."
"Allow me to know better than you do in this case," he replied, smiling.
He left the room, presently returning with a bottle of champagne and a
couple of glasses.
"Oh, please--I'd so much rather start at once," she protested. "I really
don't want anything. Do let us hurry!"
"I'm sorry, but I've no intention of starting until you have drunk
this"--filling and handing one of the glasses to her.
Rather than waste time in further argument, she accepted it, only to
find that her hand was shaking uncontrollably, so that the edge of the
glass chattered against her teeth.
"I--I can't!" she gasped helplessly. Now that she had shared her burden
of responsibility, the demands of the last half-hour's anxiety and
strain were making themselves felt.
With a swift movement Garth took the glass from her, and, supporting her
with his other arm, held it to her lips.
"Drink it down," he said authoritatively. Then, as she paused: "All of
it!"
In a few minutes the wine had brought the colour back to her face, and
she felt more like herself again.
"I'm all right, now," she said. "I'm sorry I was such a fool. But--but
this business about Molly has given me rather a shock, I suppose."
"Naturally. Now, if you're ready, we'll make a start
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