She went to him swiftly. "You can't deny me! You love me! I saw it in your eyes. Why do you fight against me? Look at me. I could be everything to you!"
"Love!" said Jack with a grim laugh. "You're wasting your time now! You almost had me—but you let me peep too far under the lid. Never again! You're too good a hater. I want to keep a whole skin!"
She saw then that she had indeed failed. The humiliation was intolerable. She burst into angry tears.
"Oh, I hate you! I hate you!" she cried. "I will kill you if you don't keep out of my way!"
She ran out of the room.
28
The Columbian set sail early on a Friday morning. On Monday Jack received the following telegram:
Charleston, S.C.
Came in here last night for coal. At daylight sick man discovered to be missing. Must have climbed through port hole and dropped into waiting boat. Wireless operator gone too. Captain thinks he was bribed by wireless to liberate B. Have discovered that the two of them took the Southern train North late last night. Wire instructions.