“Who was tricked into marrying him, and who would rather die than live with him as his wife.”
“But it’s up to Graham to keep her alive, Holt. That’s not our business. If she dies, I imagine you will have an opportunity to get your range back pretty cheap.”
Rossland held a paper out to Alan.
“Here’s partial payment—two hundred and fifty thousand. I have the papers here, on the desk, ready to sign. As soon as you give possession, I’ll return to Tanana with you and make the remaining payment.”
Alan took the check. “I guess only a fool would refuse an offer like this, Rossland.”
“Yes, only a fool.”
“And I am that fool.”
So quietly did Alan speak that for an instant the significance of his words did not fall with full force upon Rossland. The smoke cleared away from before Alan’s face. His cigar dropped to the floor, and he stepped on it with his foot. The check followed it in torn scraps. The fury he had held back with almost superhuman effort blazed in his eyes.
“If I could have Graham where you are now—in that chair—I’d give ten years of my life, Rossland. I would kill him. And you—you—”
He stepped back a pace, as if to put himself out of striking distance of the beast who was staring at him in amazement.