She suddenly leaned across the table, and took his hand between both of hers. Her proud head was lowered in an affecting way. "Love--! Hate--!" she murmured brokenly. "What's the difference? You drive me wild with your cool airs, your indifference! Sometimes I could kill you! But--but I wouldn't want you any different either. I want you to master me!" It was a heady draught. Jack's brain reeled. She raised her head. Her eyes were embers in the wind. "Look at me! Am I not beautiful? You said I was beautiful!" The voice of the tempter whispered to Jack: "Take her at her word. She deserves no consideration. Kate would have no right to blame you after what she said." "Look in my eyes," she whispered. "What do you see there?" The fire of those strange eyes lighted a train of gunpowder in the man. He forgot everything. "Oh--you beauty!" he murmured hoarsely. They rose simultaneously and leaned towards each other over the little table. "It's all so simple," she whispered. "Let me marry Bobo. You will still be his master and mine!" Once more she fatally overreached herself. Every instinct of decency in the man was revolted by the picture she called up. He firmly unwound the white arms that had crept around his neck. He turned away and took a cigarette. Miriam stared at him frightened and angry. "What's the matter with you?" she whispered. "You'd better go," he said harshly. She went to him swiftly. "You can't deny me! You love me! I saw it in your eyes. Why do you fight against me? Look at me. I could be everything to you!" "Love!" said Jack with a grim laugh. "You're wasting your time now! You almost had me--but you let me peep too far under the lid. Never again! You're too good a hater. I want to keep a whole skin!" She saw then that she had indeed failed. The humiliation was intolerable. She burst into angry tears. "Oh, I hate you! I hate you!" she cried. "I _will_ kill you if you don't keep out of my way!" She ran out of the room. 28 The _Columbian_ set sail early on a Friday morning. On Monday Jack received the following telegram: _Charleston, S.C._ _Came in here last night for coal. At daylight sick man discovered to be missing. Must have climbed through port hole and dropped into waiting boat. Wireless operator gone too. Captain thinks he was bribed by wireless to liberate B. Have discovered that the two of them took the Southern train North late last night. Wire instructions._ _Lizzie Regan._ Jack thought swiftly: "Late train North from Charleston last night. That would bring them here late to-night. Bobo would telegraph Miriam of course. She may go to meet him." He jumped to the telephone, and calling up the Bienvenu, got Starr on the wire. "This is Robinson--at the Hotel Madagascar, you know." "Yes, Mr. Robinson?" "Is Miss Culbreth still in your hotel?" "Yes, sir, but she's leaving. She just telephoned down for her bill to be made out."