"We were married years ago, but I did not know the woman was living; I
swear I did not. I supposed she was dead until the day she came to me."
"How about the past year? You have known all this time that she was
living, yet you have dared to press your suit for my daughter, you dog!
Not another word!" he exclaimed, as Walcott strove to form some excuse.
He raised his hand and the revolver gleamed in the light. Mr. Britton
grasped him by the arm.
"David, old friend, calm yourself!" he exclaimed. "Don't be rash or
foolish; let the law take its course."
"The law!" interposed Mr. Underwood, fiercely; "do you think I'd take a
case of this kind into the courts? Charges such as these against a man
whose name has been publicly associated with my daughter's as her
betrothed husband, and the principal witness against that man his own
wife! Do you suppose for a moment I'll have my daughter's name dragged
through such mire? No, by God! I'll blow the dog's brains out with my
own hand first!"
A fierce struggle ensued for a moment between the two men, which ended
in John Britton's disarming his friend, Kate meanwhile keeping Walcott
at bay as he sought in the momentary confusion to effect an escape.
Once calmed, Mr. Underwood, notwithstanding Mr. Britton's protestations,
sullenly refused to prosecute Walcott. Telephoning for an attorney who
was an old-time and trusted friend, he had an agreement drawn and
signed, whereby, upon the repayment of the funds belonging to him, after
deducting an amount therefrom sufficient to replace what he had
misappropriated, he was to leave the country altogether.
"You have escaped this time," were Mr. Underwood's parting words; "but
remember, if you ever again seek to injure me or mine, no power on earth
can save you, and I'll not go into the courts either."
As Kate and her strange companion parted, the former inquired, "Why did
you ask me not to shoot him? You surely cannot love him!"
"Love him?" she exclaimed, softly. "No, but I feared you would kill him.
His time has not come yet, Señorita, but when it does, this must be the
hand!" She lifted her own right hand with a significant movement as she
said this, and glided out into the darkness and was gone ere Kate could
recall her.
When Kate and her father, with Mr. Britton's assistance, before
returning home for the night, removed the articles taken from Walcott's
pockets, the tiny, poisoned stiletto was nowhere to be found.