"I'm sorry, lady. He'd kill me. He'd tear me to pieces," came back the whisper. "Please, Pete," desperately, "I'll do anything for you. Please, _please_!" For answer the long arms pushed her back through the open door. Another door opened and Rufus Carder's nasal voice sounded. "You there, Pete?" A sonorous snore was the only answer. For a minute that other door remained open, but the rhythmical snoring continued, and at last the latch was heard to close. Geraldine again cautiously opened her door a crack. "Pete," she whispered. The dwarf snored. "Please talk to me, Pete. I'm sure you are a kind boy." The pleading whisper received no answer beyond the heavy breathing. "I want to ask your advice. I want you to tell me what I can do. I'm sure you don't love your master." A sort of snort interrupted the snoring which then went on rhythmically as before. Geraldine closed her door noiselessly. She sat down white and unnerved. She was a prisoner, then. For a time her mind was in such a whirl that she was unable to form a plan. She put her hand to her head. "I must try to sleep if I can in this hideous place. Then to-morrow I may be able to think." Locking the door, she drew the bureau against it; then she undressed and fell into bed. Her youth and exhaustion did the rest. She slept until morning. CHAPTER VI The Dwarf "You, Pete," said his master, approaching the pump where the boy was performing his morning ablutions, "what was the noise I heard in Miss Melody's room last night?" "Dunno," sullenly. "Well, you'd better know. I'll skin you alive if anything happens to her." "How--how could I help it if she jumps out the winder?" Carder smiled. "You're thinkin' of somebody else. _She_ went to the hospital. If Miss Melody hurts herself, we'll keep her here. She won't do that, though, and I hold you accountable for anything else she does. Night and day, remember. You've got to know where she is all the time. You understand?" The dwarf grunted and combed his thick, tousled hair with his fingers. "Watch yourself now. You'll pay if anything goes wrong. What was that noise I heard? Out with it!" The dwarf grunted his reply. "She moved the furniture ag'in' the door, I guess." "Oh, that was it." Rufus laughed and turned toward the house. The hired men had had their breakfast and gone to the fields and the drudge in the kitchen was prepared for the arrival of her son and his guest. Geraldine came downstairs fresh from sleep and such a cold bath as was obtainable from the contents of a crockery pitcher. Rufus's eyes glittered as he beheld her. "Well, my little--I mean my lady, you look wonderful. I guess there was some sleep in the little old bed after all; but you shall have down to sleep on if you want it." Geraldine regarded him.