Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-07-24
Gideon stood bulky in the door

Gideon stood bulkily In the door
way OF the little dining room.
She has gone home. Judy" he
said very softly. She asked me to
say good night TO YOU
Judy rushed to the front door.
She ratified the handle and found
it locked.
THE door is locked" Judy said.
Unlock it,"
The smile on his face maddened
her. but she knew that above all
things she must keep her head. He
was not drunk: for that he was
the more dangerous"
Not just yet. judy. Gideon said.
She crossed the hall and ran up
stairs into the bedroom where she
and Madame de Toros had removed
their wraps. She wore a little frock
OF a brilliant tint. between rose
red and tomato, and she went liz
the dark oak stairs like a flash Of
sunset.
She found Madame de Toros'
cloak gone. Her diamond crown
with the big pearl tips. which she
had taken of and laid On the
dressing table. was gone. too.
Judy ran downstairs again. eide
on still stood in the doorway, smil-
ing.
Where's your sister," she cried
furiOusly. "A nice thing OF her to
60 away ike that and leave me
alonel'
Why should my sister suppose
that you did not want 70 stay,
Judy?" the man asked. "She knows
that you and I are good friends"
Il bet the telephone was all q
bluff! You disgusting brutel You
got her out OF the way so that you
could'-she laughed. rallying all
her nerve-"so that you could play
this silly joke on me-"
~ isn't a joke. Judyl You've
been playing the fool with me. It's
got TO stop. Why did you 20 about
with me everywhere? Why did YOU
make me get rid OF Luna Colt?
Why did you drive me mad. SO
that ! could think Of nothing hut
You by night and day? What did
yoi mean by 10 alp"
"Nothlngl Nothingl"
THAT won't do. judy. You've
got TO mean something. Come back
into the room here. and don't look
at me like a little wild cat"
Unlock the door and let me 20.
pieasel" she said, making her voice
w~heedling, like a child.
mo, Judy. Come and be friends
He took n step toward her.
II shall vel the house down." she
said suddenly. The words ratified
IN her throat.
mot the slightest use. There's
only one man up at the top. right
at the end of the corridor: and
whatever he heard, he wouldn't take
any notice"
The words. softly spoken and
ccmplacent. frightened her more
than anything else. She backed Up
the stairs.
Please unlock the doori"
mo. Judy. You wanted it this
way. You've led me on; you've
daneled me on a string for months.
Now-now it's my turn!l"
She went very cold and still. She
saw him through a mist. He looked
like a wild beast. She thought or
him as a tiger, licking his Jaws.
She had seen the wild beast In him
before. but never so fierce that il
could not be tanned.
Fascinated. she stared at him.
unable to move. He meant to make
her payl
He came up TO her and put his
hand on her shoulder. He was muir
muring a string Of words, but she
did not hear them.
She wished that she could pray
Why had no N eve taught her 70
pray? Why had no one ever told
her about God? She felt a dull an
ger against the world.
She remembered that Dan pray
ed. Words came to her that she
had often heard him repeat. They
tangled in her brain. Gideon's
hoarse voice was close TO her ear,
Everything was a blur. but through
the gathering darkness she saw his
eyes, blcodshot. covetous-the eyes
or a man who will wait no longer
Quite suddenly and simply. with
out meaning to. she raised hel
hand and made the sign of the
cross. She had never done such q
thing before.
u was almost like a miracle.
Gideon started back as II some
one had struck him a blow. He
seemed to reel.
IN that moment Judy got hel