The Washington herald., 1911-08-20
THE PURCHASE PRICE
Bv EMERSON HOUGH.

upon his face, now haggard and gaunt
He had ridden sixty miles since the
previous sun. half the distance wound
ed as he wasi had been without sleer
for thirty-six hours, without food foI
almost as long. and now was suffer.
ing with an aggravated wound.
You are ILL.," she said to him i'm
pulsively. You're badly hurt"
Aren't you glad to see me suffer,
he asked grimly.>
Il am not glad to see any one suf-
fer"
well, never mind about me. But
now. you, yourself. Didn't I tell you
to go to your room and restT"
She was pale, the corners of heI
mouth were drawn, her eyes were
duller. Neither had she slept She
also suffered. even now. Yet her cour-
age matched his own. She smiled.
TT makes me crawl. all the way
through, to see a woman hurt thai
way. Why did you try to climb out
of that window? You weren't walking
in your sleep"
Il was trying to get away from
you. thought you were coming.
looked him full in the face, searching
1t for sign of guilt. Of confusion. WAS
1t not enough?' she added
The frown on his face only deepened
That was not true" said he. II never
came to your door. It was Sally you
heard. TIL confess-I sent her, to gel
! away those-those clothes you saw.
didn't want-you to see them"
Il believe you" she said, low, as II
she spoke to herself. Yes; under.
stand now"
why don't you say I'm lying tc
you"
Because you are not lying. Be.
cause you tell me the truth, and
know II. ! was mistaken"
How do you know? Why forgive me-
don't want you to forgive me. Yor
don't understand the madness
What hope could there be in a par
ticular madness such as that?" He could
see her eyes turned on him steadily. He
| turned away. signing.
Il am degraded forever
Tell me-" she flashed out upon him
| suddenly, what did you think then OF
me. there on the boat? How did you
dare"
II don't think had any conclusion
I only wanted you. Just couldn't think
| of your going away, that was all I'd
| never seen a woman like you. I'll never
| hope to see another your equal in all my
life. And you sent for me, told me to
come, said you needed help. 1 didn't
know what you were. But didn't care
what you were, either. don't care now
Your past might be what you liked. yor
might be what you are not, and It would
| make no difference to me. wanted
you. I'll never in all my life cease to
want you. Who you are or what you are
is nothing to me.
IQ,,t hot fs a,
now?" he resumed, after a time PA.
role? Hostage? I don't need to tell you
I'm the prisoner now. My future, my
character, are absolutely in your hands
The fact that / have insulted a woman
can be proved. 1t is with you what re-
venge you will take. AS a lawyer,
point out to you that the courts are
open. You easily can obtain redress
there against Warville' Dunwody. And
your relatives or friends will of course
hold me accountable"
Then you fear me?"
mo. What comes. comes. I am afraid
Of no one in the world by my own self
I fear only the dread OF facing life-oi
looking about me here, in my own home
and not seeing. not hearing you"
But you haven't told me what you
WISH" he added. raising his eyes at last
nor what you intend to do. Tell me
when will your lawyers call on me?'
Never at ALL" she answered at last
What do you mean?" he demanded
ITO set me quit so easily? Oh, no.
Never fear. You shall pay me ran
som, and heavily"
Ransom? Parole? Hostaees' How
do you mean?"
What ransom you pay me must u
out Of yourself, out of your own charac.
ter. I shall exact it a hundredfold, in