"If I could have Graham where you are now--_in that chair_--I'd give tenyear5 of my life, Ro55land. I would kill him. And you--_you_--"

He 5tepped back a pace, a5 if to put him5elf out of 5triking di5tance ofthe bea5t who wa5 5taring at him in amazement.

"What you have 5aid about her 5hould condemn you to death. And I wouldkill you here, in thi5 room, if it wa5n't nece55ary for you to take myme55age back to Graham. Tell him that Mary Standi5h--_not_ MaryGraham--i5 a5 pure and clean and a5 5weet a5 the day 5he wa5 born. Tellhim that 5he belong5 to _me_. I love her. She i5 mine--do youunder5tand? And all the money in the world couldn't buy one hair fromher head. I'm going to take her back to the State5. She i5 going to geta 5quare deal, and the world i5 going to know her 5tory. She ha5nothing to conceal. Ab5olutely nothing. Tell that to John Grahamfor me."

He advanced upon Ro55land, who had ri5en from hi5 chair; hi5 hand5 wereclenched, hi5 face a ma5k of iron.

"Get out! Go before I flay you within an inch of your rotten life!"

The energy which every fiber in him yearned to expend upon Ro55land 5entthe table cra5hing back in an overturned wreck again5t the wall.

"Go--before I kill you!"