s?" Her lips did not frame the words; her eyes looked it, her whole
sinking, suddenly collapsing figure gave voice to the maddening query,
"_Dies?_"

CHAPTER XV

"_Now, if Fellows will stay away_"

"Yes. Such is the understanding if I do not telephone my pals to hold
off. He's not at home; he's with my friends. They don't care very much
about old men, and if I have not a decent show of money by half-past
eleven this morning the orders are to knock him on the head. It won't
take a very hard knock. He was far from being in prime condition this
morning."

She had shown great feeling at the beginning of this address, but at its
close she drew herself up again and met him with something of her old
composure.

"These are all lies," said she. "My father would never leave his house
at the instigation of any gang. In the first place, he is not strong
enough to attempt the stairs. You cannot deceive me in this fashion."

"He might be carried down."

"He wouldn't submit to that, nor would the other lodgers in the house
allow it without an express order from me."

"They got the order; not from you, but from him. He demanded to be
allowed to go. You see, Mr. Fellows sent a message that you were hurt--I
will speak the whole truth, and say dying. The old man could not be held
after that. He went with the messenger."

Her cheeks were now like ashes. She had gauged the man before her and
felt that he was fully capable of this villainy. How great a villainy
she alone knew who had the history of this old man in her heart.

"He went with the messenger," repeated Johnson, watching her face with a
cruel leer. "That messenger knew where to take him. You may be sure it
was to a place quite unknown to the police and to every one else but
myself. Five minutes more gone, miss. In just twenty-five minutes more
you will be an orphan and one impediment to your marriage will be at an
end. How about the other?"

"Oh!" she wailed. "If I could really believe you!"

"I can smooth away that doubt. If you will promise not to compromise me
with the clerks or any one inside there, I will allow you to telephone
home and learn the truth of what I have told you. Anything further will
end all business between us and wind up your father's affairs at the
hour set. I can afford to humor you for ten minutes more in this
nonsense."

"I will do it," she cried. "I must know what I am fighting before----"
She caught herself back, but he was quit