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"Afraid to answer, ain't you?" he cried. "When I face you down

you're afraid to answer an' tell me I'd better go away. Well, now

let me tell you something. You're entirely too friendly with that

crook, an' I won't have it! You're engaged to me, and what I say

goes. An' let me tell you something else.

"The insurance company is after him because he sunk the _May

Schofield_ on purpose. But that ain't the worst of the things he

did--"

"What do you mean?" she flashed at him.

"You'll find out quick enough, and so will he," he snarled. "I'm

not saying what is goin' to happen to him, but when I'm through

we'll see if your hero is such a fine specimen."

From fear to anger her spirit had gone, and now under the lash it

turned to cold disdain. With a swift motion of her right hand

over her left she drew off the diamond ring he had given her and

held it out to him.