"
"In time!" she echoed. "In time for what? What is going to happen? What
do you mean?"
His hold tightened upon her. "Well," he said, "there's going to be a row.
But I'm boss of this show, and I reckon I can deal with it. Only--I'll
have you safe first, little new chum. I'm not taking any chances where
you are concerned."
She gasped a little. The steady assurance of his voice stirred her
strangely.
She tried to release herself from his hold. "I don't like this place,"
she said. "Let me go back to Mr. Hill."
"That's just what I can't do." He bent suddenly down to her. "Won't you
trust me?" he said. "I didn't fail you last time, did I?"
She thrilled in answer to those words. It was as if thereby he had flung
down all barriers between them. She stood for a moment in indecision,
then impulsively she turned and grasped his arms.
"I trust you--absolutely," she told him, tremulously. "But--but--though
I know you don't like him--promise me--you won't let--Fletcher be hurt!"
He, too, was silent for a moment before responding. She fancied that he
flinched a little at her words. Then: "All right, I promise," he said.
"Then I will go--wherever you like," she said, bravely, and put her hand
into his.
He took it into a strong grasp. "That's like you," he said, with
simplicity.
CHAPTER X
THE GREATER LOVE
Through a labyrinth of many passages he led her, over ground that was
often rough and slimy with that sound of running water in their ears,
sometimes near, sometimes distant, but never wholly absent.
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