Pagina 111 de 439

But no shots came. Lights flashed from room to room, and

presently one light began to fill a room so brilliantly that she

knew a lamp must have been overturned and set the house on fire.

Dunke burst from the front door, scarce a dozen paces from her.

There was a kind of lurid fury in his eyes. He was as ravenously

fierce as a wolf balked of its kill. She chose that moment to

call him.

"Mr. Dunke!"

Her voice struck him into a sort of listening alertness, and

again she pronounced his name.

"You, Miss Kinney--here?" he asked in amazement.

"Yes--Miss Kinney."

"But--What are you doing here? I thought you were at Fort

Lincoln."

"I was, but I'm here now."

"Why? This is no place for you to-night. Hell's broke loose."

"So it seems," she answered, with shining eyes.

"There's trouble afoot, Miss Margaret. No girl should be out, let

alone an unprotected one."

"I did not come here unprotected. There was a man with me. The

one, Mr. Dunke, that you are now looking for to murder!"