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Corliss showed signs of returning consciousness, and with her first breath she begged that Basil Hurlhurst might be sent for at once. He could not understand why she shrunk from him, refusing his proffered hand. "Tell them all to leave the room," she whispered. "No one must know what I have to say to you."
"OLD COLLEGE CHUM," it began, "For the sake of those happy hours of our school-days, you will please favor me by reading what I have written to the end. "If you love Pluma Hurlhurst better than your sense of honor this letter is of no avail. I can not see you drifting on to ruin without longing to save you. You have been cleverly caught in the net the scheming heiress has set for you.
"I thought Whitestone Hall especially guarded against thieves," she said, steadily. "You seem to be a desperate woman; but I, Pluma Hurlhurst, do not fear you. We will pass over the remarks you have just uttered as simply beyond discussion." With a swift, gliding motion she attempted to reach the bell-rope. Again the woman intercepted her.
I don't want you to go away, Pluma, from the luxury that has been yours; stay and be my sister share my home." "My little tender-hearted angel!" cried Basil Hurlhurst, moved to tears. John Brooks hid his face in his hands.
She made a movement toward the bell-rope, but the woman hastily thrust her back into her seat, crossed over, turned the key in the lock, and hastily removed it. Basil Hurlhurst and John Brooks were about to rush to her assistance, but the detective suddenly thrust them back, holding up his hand warningly. "Not yet," he whispered; "we will wait until we know what this strange affair means.
"Pluma Miss Hurlhurst," he said, "I am sorry you have unfortunately thus expressed yourself, for your own sake. I beg you will say no more. You yourself have severed this night the last link of friendship between us. I am frank with you in thus admitting it.
He could fancy her at that moment kneeling to him, under the glare of the lamp-light, confessing her love for him, and denouncing poor little clinging Daisy with such bitter scorn. His present position was certainly an embarrassing one to Rex. "I am here in accordance with your request, Miss Hurlhurst," he said, simply, bowing coldly over the white hand that would cling to his arm.
She looked wistfully into his face, and she drew her slender figure up to its full height, as she replied, in a low, passionate, musical voice: "Mr. Lyon can not marry your daughter, sir, for he has a living wife." "Mr. Lyon has a wife?" repeated Basil Hurlhurst, literally dumbfounded with amazement. "In Heaven's name, explain yourself!" he cried, rising hastily from his chair and facing her.
Pluma Hurlhurst recoiled from the touch, fairly holding her breath, speechless with fury and astonishment. "You insolent creature!" she cried. "I wonder at your boldness in forcing your presence upon me. Did I not have you thrust from the house an hour ago, with the full understanding I would not see you, no matter who you were or whom you wanted."
Basil Hurlhurst was not a superstitious man, yet he felt a strange, unaccountable dread stealing over him at the bare mention of such a thing.
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