He did not obey.
She transfixed him with her eyes and said:
"Mr. Sheriff, you have no right to insult a lady as you are doing, and I shall see that you are reported."
He dropped his hand and stepped backward quickly. The look in her beautiful eyes startled him. He owed his official station to the people, and he seemed of a sudden to realize that this girl was a representative of one of the wealthiest families in Grandon. She was not on the same footing as the poor widow, who had been held in confinement for weeks without the privilege of bail.
"I beg your pardon, Miss Alstine," he said, quickly. "I see that I was going a little too far, but my excuse is that I am anxious to leave no stone unturned to effect the capture of that low villain, Bordine. It may be that he will have another murder to answer for after to-night."
Rose shuddered at the thought.
The gulf between her and August Bordine was widening to the shores of eternity, and even beyond.
"I have no wish to deny that the man who met me to-night was Bordine. The meeting was wholly unexpected on my part, and I was compelled to listen to him."
"Exactly. Well, it is more than likely that the scoundrel will be in the hands of the law before midnight."
Then the sheriff turned away.