Now you understand."
"Good God! You--you were to be forced into a marriage with--why, it is
the most damnable--"
"O'Dowd,--God bless him!--was my only champion. He knew my father. He--"
"Listen!" he hissed, starting to his feet.
"Don't move!" came from the darkness outside. "I have me gun leveled.
I heard me name taken in vain. Thanks for the blessing. I was
wondering whether you would say something pleasant about me,--and,
thank the good Lord, I was patient. But I'd advise you both to sit
still, just the same."
A chuckle rounded out the gentle admonition of the invisible Irishman.
CHAPTER XV
LARGE BODIES MOVE SLOWLY,--BUT MR. SPROUSE WAS SMALLER THAN THE
AVERAGE
There was not a sound for many seconds. The trapped couple in the
stone-cutter's shed scarcely breathed. She was the first to speak.
"I am ready to return with you, Mr. O'Dowd," she said, distinctly.
"There must be no struggle, no blood-shed. Anything but that."
She felt Barnes's body stiffen and caught the muttered execration that
fell from his lips.
O'Dowd spoke out of the darkness: "You forget that I have your own
word for it that ye'll be a dead woman before the day is over.
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