t
alone Dudley's, was no place for Paulette Brown and myself to talk. But
I was just three feet behind her as she slid around the corner of the
shack, toward the bush that lay dark against the cold winter moon. And I
rustled with my feet on purpose, so that she turned and saw me, with the
moon full on my face.

"You sha'n't do it," I said. I did not know I had made a stride to her
till I felt her arm under my hand. "You sha'n't go!"

My dream girl, who had two names and belonged to Dudley anyhow, said
nothing at all. She and I, who had really nothing to do with one
another, if I would have laid my soul under her little feet, stood still
in the cold moonlight, looking inimically into one another's eyes.

CHAPTER XI

MACARTNEY HEARS A NOISE: AND I FIND FOUR DEAD MEN

We must have stood silent for a good three minutes. I think I was
furious because Paulette did not speak to me. I said, "You're not to
go--you're _never_ to go and meet Hutton again, as long as you live!"
And for the first time I saw my dream girl flinch from me.

"What?" she gasped so low I could hardly hear. "You know that? What am I
going to do? My God, what am I going to do?"

"You're coming back into the shack with me!" We were on the blind side
of the house for Marcia and Dudley, but we were in plain view from
Charliet's window, and I was not going to have even a cook look out and
see Paulette talking to a man in the middle of the night. Her despair
cut me; I had never seen her anything but valiant before, and I had a
lump in my throat. But I spoke roughly enough. "I didn't know the whole
of things till to-night, but now I do, you'll have to trust me. Can't
you see I mean to do all I can to help you--and Dudley?" If it were
tough to have to add Dudley I did it. But I felt her start furiously.

"Dudley?" she repeated almost scornfully. "Nobody can help Dudley but
me--and there's only one way! Mr. Stretton, I promise you I'll never ask
again, but--for God's sake let me go to meet Dick Hutton to-night!"

"Not blindly," said I brutally. "If you tell me why, perhaps--but we
can't talk here. If you'll come into the house and trust me about what
you want to do, I may let you go--just this once--if I think it's the
right way!"

"I've only half an hour before it's too late--for any way!" But she
turned under the hand I had never lifted from her arm.

I led her noiselessly into the office. I was afraid of the living room.
Marcia might come ba