"On the other hand, what I have to say is short and to the point. A
child could comprehend it. You've stolen the girl. I tried to let her
go. I can't. I have to have her. Willing or unwilling she has to belong
to me, Donnegan."

"If you wish, I shall promise that I shall never see her again or speak
to her."

"You fool' Won't she find you out? Do you think I could trust you? Only
in one place--underground."

Donnegan had clasped his hands upon his breast and his eyes were wide.

"What is it you mean, Henry?"

"I'll trust you--dead!"

"Henry!"

"That name means nothing to me I've forgotten it. The worlds has
forgotten it."

"Henry, I implore you to keep cool--to give me five minutes for talk--"

"No, not one. I know your cunning tongue!"

"For the sake of the days when you loved me, my brother. For the sake of
the days when you used to wheel my chair and be kind to me."

"You're wasting your time. You're torturing us both for nothing.
Donnegan, my will is a rock. It won't change."

And drawing closer his right hand gripped his gun and the trembling
passion of the gunfighter set him shuddering.

"You're armed, Garry. Go for your gun!"

"No, no!"

"Then I'll give you cause to fight."

And as he spoke, he drew back his massive arm and with his open hand
smote Donnegan heavily across the face. The weight of that blow crushed
the little man against the wall.

"Your gun!" cried Lord Nick, swaying from side to side as the passion
choked him.

Donnegan fell upon his knees and raised his arms.

"God have mercy on me, and on yourself!"

At that the blackness cleared slowly on the face of the big man; he
thrust his revolver into the holster.

"This time," he said, "there's no death. But sooner or later we meet,
Donnegan, and then, I swear by all that lives, I'll shoot you
down--without mercy--like a mad dog. You've robbed me; you've hounded
me: you've killed my men: you've taken the heart of the woman I love.
And now nothing can save you from the end."

He turned on his heel and left the room.

And Donnegan remained kneeling, holding a stained handkerchief to his
face.

All at once his strength seemed to desert him like a tree chopped at the
root, and he wilted down against the wall with closed eyes.

But the music still came out of the throat and the heart of Lou, and it
entered the room and came into the ears of Donnegan. He became aware
that there was a strength beyond himself which had susta