David's will had conquered, but his exultation did not speak. He was watching Kate Morgan, fascinated. Her pistol rose, then fell, and the pistol and walking-stick exchanged hands. Mr. Allen took the first step toward the telephone. The stick came up, whizzed down upon Mr. Allen's pistol hand. The weapon went flying upon the rug, and Mr. Allen let out a sharp cry and started to whirl around. As the stick struck flesh David sprang forward, and with the skill of his old boxing-days, with all his strength and weight focussed in the blow, he drove his fist against Mr. Allen's unguarded chin. Mr. Allen fell limply upon the deep carpet. "Come on! Out of here!" cried David, seizing Kate's arm. She jerked away and stood tensely erect, glaring at him. "Go, you coward! I stay here!" "But you'll get caught!" "That's my business!" she blazed. "Get out!--I'm going to finish the job." She whirled about, jerked the handkerchief from her face, thrust it into Allen's mouth, and tied this gag securely in place with a handkerchief which she took from the pocket of Allen's dressing-gown. Then she tied his feet with the dressing-gown's rope girdle, and his hands with one of the silken ropes that held back the hangings in the broad doorway. This done, she sprang to the electric-light key, and the room filled with blackness. She flashed her lantern on David, who had stood watching her rapid actions in amazement. "Why don't you go? Get out!" "See here, it's crazy to stay here. You know it. You've got to come with me." His lantern, which he had taken up, showed a face that darted scorn and rage. "Go with you?--I'll die first!" she returned in a low, fierce whisper. And then she added, each slow word edged with infinite contempt: "Oh, what a poor damned coward!" He quivered, but he said quietly, "If you won't go, I'll stay with you." "Stay with me? You'll not! I won't have you!" She turned abruptly and left the room. He stood thinking for a space; then he went out and crept down the stairway. As he passed the drawing-room door he saw Kate bending in front of the open curio cabinet. He crept down another flight to the first floor and hid himself behind a palm in an angle of the great hall. He strained his ears for trouble, ready to rush upstairs at the first sound. After a time a wand of light was thrust down the stairway. Then came Kate, the suit-case in one hand, feeling her way with the wand like a blind man with a cane. For a moment the searching light pierced through the palm into his face, and David thought he was discovered; but she glided on and down the basement stairs. He let several minutes pass; then he too slipped out into the street. * * * * *