It was his one purpose in life to kill, not
to be killed. He realized that he was powerless. Grand could shoot him
down like a dog--an inglorious end to the one spark of ambition left
in him. The workings of Braddock's mind were as plain to Jenison as if
the man were expounding them by word of mouth.
"Before leaving the country," David substituted. The ghost of a sneer
flickered about Braddock's lips. He spoke for the first time,
hoarsely, but with wonderful calmness.
"I came to see Mary," he said. "You'd better go, Grand. I don't want
anything to do with you. It won't be healthy for either of us if we
see too much of each other."
"Stand out from behind my daughter, you coward," shouted Grand.
"Don't shoot, father!" screamed the girl, terror-stricken.
"Go ahead!" said Braddock grimly.
The driver of the cab was looking wildly about in quest of a
policeman. Two women had stopped on the opposite side of the street,
and were staring at the group in front of the Portman mansion.
"Shall I call a cop?" called out the cabby, addressing himself to the
one person who seemed to belong on the premises--Mrs.
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