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"Take off her skirt," he said; then added: "Shoes might do." And with his back turned to the girl, he knelt and quickly unshod Dutch Fridji while Amaryllis unfastened the waistband of the skirt. "Yours wouldn't last a mile," said Dick, going to the window and looking out. "Put 'em on quick say when." In a time wonderfully short, he thought, for a girl, she spoke.
Amaryllis raised her eyes towards the window and the strip of sky it framed, in silent supplication. And already, half through the window, she saw her answer. And Fridji saw her victim's face flush with hope, and turned to see its cause.
Melchard doesn't want me to be killed," she said. For a moment Fridji's rage choked her. "I'll scream, and he'll come with his men." "With this I have sent him running from your door," cried Fridji. "It is locked this side, and you will bleed to die before they break it." Not rushing, but creeping, Dutch Fridji approached.
That there might be murder going to be done at a place called 'The Myrtles'? And what time had I to tell it in? And where'd you be now, daughter, if I'd been two minutes later than I was?" Ever so gently Amaryllis squeezed his arm against her side in gratitude, and then quivered a little, remembering the horror of Dutch Fridji and her knife and where last she had seen it.
I squeeze harder next time and there are other things. This is good old establish firm, no risk taken." And Dutch Fridji came slowly towards Amaryllis. "You make love with my Alban," she said, "an' I stop it." Lifting her skirt, she fetched from a sheath in her stocking a sharp-pointed knife. "I have enough of you. Two months I must say 'ma'am'! And now, it is Alban!"
And the girl, her long hands almost meeting round Fridji's slender neck, squeezed with all her strength, forcing the head and shoulders to the ground. Fridji gaped for breath. "Stuff her mouth blanket," said Dick, with his feet almost clear of the window-sill, yet keeping his hold on the ankle.
"Of course," she said, "please be quick." "If you cannot wait," replied Fridji, "you must go without." "You must not speak to me like that. You know very well that parlour-maids say 'ma'am' and are expected to be respectful." "Parlour-maids! I am no parlour-maid." "Indeed?" said Amaryllis. "Here I am mistress!" "Oh!" said Amaryllis. "And you are prisoner I tell you." "Yes?" said Amaryllis.
"You mean to kill me?" asked Amaryllis. Dutch Fridji was like the nightmare vision of a Fury. For a moment Amaryllis was paralyzed. But Fridji liked the clatter of her own tongue. "It is that I mean," she said. "To kill you very slow. Your beautiful frock, it burn now.
Through the opening which Amaryllis had left between sill and sash, his hands on the floor, his chin almost touching it, while his legs from knee to feet were still outside the window, she saw Dick Bellamy. Fridji, with blood in her mind, knife in her hand, and the proof of Amaryllis' face that this was an enemy, sprang to deal with the defenceless intruder.
And before he had come to an end with the ordering, that Dutch Fury, set free by Hebérto, springs into the room of the telephone, with blood in her eyes, and half-naked. When she knew what he was about, she asked him in her sharp voice: "'Have you told him first to find the man's car? "'What car? What man? says Melchardo. "'The devil that laid me out, and you fools too, quoth Fridji.
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