The Odds

t. Now and then a gleam of light would come from some distant crevice, and Dot would catch a glimpse of the rocky corridor through which they moved-catch a glimpse also of her companion walking wit

is man's presence

a considerable distance before, very far ahead of them at t

e we are goin

" he

zled. "But where are we?

t of humour in his voice. "The stream flows undergrou

his words. "You-you are

id, easily, "and the king of this rat-run amongs

aid yesterday-you had lived str

of recklessness he put the question. "If Fletcher Hill managed

, yet his hand still held hers in the same cl

tter," she s

hy?" said B

are friend

ening, and the ground was rough and broken. She stumbled once or twice, and each time he held her u

to carry you h

e twenty feet above her, the rough-hewn steps slanting a

adful place

den, "unless we tramp underground

back?" she sa

He gave her hand

as he bent towards her. Something moved her, she knew n

g agility, as if he were entirely unencumbered. She felt the strength of his great frame beneath her, and marvelled. A

side of a mountain where no vestige of a path or any habitation showed in any direction. For the first

chill wind was wandering to and fro. She shivered involuntarily. It sounded like the whispe

the man for protection. "How

which no words could utter. For he caught her swiftly to him, lifting her off her feet, and very suddenly he covered her face and neck and throat with hot, de

ps stopped the words upon her own. She was powerless-and very deep down within

pitating against his breast while his cheek pressed hers in a stillness th

ice was deep and tender, throbbing

little new c

made no answer. That headlong outburst of passion had

s fell hot upon her face. "You are mine! Why shouldn't I keep yo

y his violence-stirred within her at his words and awoke. Yet it was

t the utterance of them gave her new strength. She move

ere was less of assurance in his hold. It was that that added to her strength, but

rol, her voice gathered confidence with the words, "that by taki

t," he asserted, swiftl

shook her head against his shoulder. "No-no!

" He was holding her still closely, bu

urprised herself: "I mean the only love t

ught of any other woman since the day I met you? Haven't I been fighting against

d of heartbreak in her voice. "But-the odds have be

ten!" h

didn't. He kept on waiting, and-and-they said it wasn't fair-to spoil a man's life

ned upon her again. "Tell me, little

hrough tears. "I gave in-willingly. I t

oan. "And that's what you're

ot to play the game," she said. "I've got to keep my wor

he question

being honest-if your love is worth-anything at all-that

for you?

ot know how she uttered the word

her soul, and it cost her every atom

any pulsing seconds, then-very, very slo

n his voice-a note that waked in her a wild impulse to spring back into his arms and cling to him-and cling to him. "

g her; then his hands cl

l!" he said. "I'll see