In a turmoil of mental anxiety Jane waited the arrival of Chief Fleck
at the place he had designated. She was still badly wrought up by the
scene through which she had just passed with Frederic. There were
moments when her heart insisted that, regardless of the despicable
crimes that were laid at his door, she should forsake everything for
him, for the man she loved. Had there been in her mind the slightest
possible doubt as to his guilt she might indeed have wavered, but the
evidence of his treachery seemed too manifest! She loathed herself for
caring for him and felt it her sacred duty to go on with her work of
aiding the government in trying to entrap both of them; yet how could
she ever do it?
As she waited she debated with herself whether or not to tell Chief
Fleck what had passed between herself and Frederic. After all, why
should she? That was her own secret, not the country’s. If she stifled
her love, and gave her best efforts to aiding the other operatives in
running down the conspirators, what more could be expected of her?
Certainly she was not going to tell any one of the sealed packet
Frederic had entrusted to her. She had promised him she would keep it
safe. Surely there could be no harm in that, yet the little parcel,
still in the bosom of her gown where she had thrust it, seemed to be
burning her flesh and searing itself into her very soul.
In strong contrast with her own spirit of martyrdom was Fleck’s manner.
Never before had she seen him in such high spirits as he was when he
drew up before the subway station in a low car built for speed. On the
seat beside the chauffeur was a young man whom she recognized as
another of the operatives. As Fleck swung the door of the tonneau open
for her she noticed lying on the floor under a rug several rifles and
drew back questioningly.
“Come on, Miss Strong,” he cried gaily. “Don’t be afraid of them. We
may be glad we have them before we return from our hunting expedition.”
“But,” she asked hesitatingly as she took her seat beside him, “you
don’t expect to shoot these men—without a trial.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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