His face flushed
furiously. Winthrop, uncomprehending, gazed unconcerned over
Gaylor's shoulder. The voice of Vera rose hysterically to her
climax.
"She bids me tell you," Vera cried; " Tell my brother -- "
Gaylor swept toward her.
"What damned farce is this?" he shouted.
The effect of the interruption was instant and startling. Mr.
Hallowell, who, in the last few minutes, had believed he was
listening to a voice from the dead, collapsed upon the shoulder
of Rainey, who sprang to support him. Like a somnambulist
wrenched from sleep, Vera gave a scream of fright, half genuine,
half assumed, and swayed as though about to fall. Vance caught
her in his arms. He turned on Gaylor, his cunning red eyes
flashing evilly.
"You brute!" he cried, "you might have killed her."
Between her sobs, Vera, her head upon the shoulder of Vance,
whispered a question. As quickly, under cover of muttered
sympathy, Vance answered: "Gaylor. The Judge."
Still slightly swaying, Vera stood upright. She passed her hand
vaguely before her eyes. "Where am I?" she asked feebly. "Where
am I?"
Gaylor shook his fist at the girl.
"You know where you are!" he thundered; "and you know where
you're going -- you're going to jail!"
In the hush that followed Vera drew herself to her full height.
She regarded Gaylor wonderingly, haughtily, as though he were
some drunken intruder from the street.
"Are you speaking to me?" she asked.
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