Yet she was by no means sure of a
triumph. She recognized the most formidable of all foes--pride. After
all, she wanted to humble that pride. She felt that all the danger in
which Terry Hollis now stood, both moral and physical, was indirectly the
result of this woman's attitude. And she struck her, deliberately
cruelly.
"He's taken up with a gang of hard ones, Miss Cornish. That's one thing."
The face of Elizabeth was like stone.
"Professional--thieves, robbers!"
And still Elizabeth refused to wince. She forced a cold, polite smile of
attention.
"He went into a town and killed the best fighter they had."
And even this blow did not tell.
"And then he defied the sheriff, went back to the town, and broke into a
bank and stole fifty thousand dollars."
The smile wavered and went out, but still the dull eyes of Elizabeth were
steady enough. Though perhaps that dullness was from pain. And Kate,
waiting eagerly, was chagrined to see that she had not broken through to
any softness of emotion. One sign of grief and trembling was all she
wanted before she made her appeal; but there was no weakness in Elizabeth
Cornish, it seemed.
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