me?"
"You know that I would, Austin."
"Yes, I know that you would. What I do I shall do for you. I amdriven to it. There is no other way out, my darling!" I kissed herand rushed from the room.
The time for indecision was at an end. As long as the creaturethreatened my own prospects and my honor there might be a question asto what I should do. But now, when Agatha--my innocent Agatha--wasendangered, my duty lay before me like a turnpike road. I had noweapon, but I never paused for that. What weapon should I need, when Ifelt every muscle quivering with the strength of a frenzied man? I ranthrough the streets, so set upon what I had to do that I was only dimlyconscious of the faces of friends whom I met--dimly conscious alsothat Professor Wilson met me, running with equal precipitance in theopposite direction. Breathless but resolute I reached the house andrang the bell. A white cheeked maid opened the door, and turned whiteryet when she saw the face that looked in at her.
"Show me up at once to Miss Penclosa," I demanded.
"Sir," she gasped, "Miss Penclosa died this afternoon at half-pastthree!"
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