I suppose
you've got enough on me to secure a divorce, but I can air some of
your dirty linen. Oh, don't look like that! I mean it! Didn't you
spend a night with David Law?" He leered at her unpleasantly, then
followed a step as she drew back.
"Don't you touch me!" she cried.
A flush was deepening Ed's purple cheeks; his voice was peculiarly
brutal and throaty as he said: "The decree isn't entered yet, and
so long as you are Mrs. Austin I have rights. Yes, and I intend to
exercise them. You've made me jealous, and, by God--" He made to
encircle her with his arms and was half successful, but when
Alaire felt the heat of his breath in her face a sick loathing
sprang up within her, and, setting her back against the wall, she
sent him reeling. Whether she struck him or merely pushed him away
she never knew, for during the instant of their struggle she was
blind with indignation and fury. Profiting by her advantage, she
dodged past him, fled to her room, and locked herself in.
She heard him muttering profanely; heard him approach her chamber
more than once, then retire uncertainly, but she knew him too well
to be afraid.
Later that night she wrote two letters--one to Judge Ellsworth,
the other to Dave Law.
Pages:
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359