"No. If he does justice, I may spare his life. If he does not——"
"You shall not see him——"
"It's my life or his—I warn you——"
"Then it's yours—I choose my country!"
She walked with quick, firm step to the door leading into the family apartments of the President. On the threshold her feet faltered. She grasped the door facing, turned, and saw him standing with folded arms watching her—with the eyes of a madman. Her face went white. She lifted her hand to her heart and slowly stumbled back into his arms.
"God have mercy!" she sobbed. "I'm just a woman—my love—my darling—I—I—can't—kill you——"
Her arms relaxed and she would have fallen to the floor had he not caught the fainting form and carried her into the hall.
Two men were at his side instantly.
"Take Miss Winter downstairs," he whispered. "There's a carriage at the gate. Bring it quietly to the door—one of you take her to the Senator's home. The other must return here immediately and wait my orders. There's no guard in this outer hall at night. The one inside is with the boy. Keep out of sight if any one passes."
The men obeyed without a word and John Vaughan stepped quickly back into the Executive office, drew the short curtains across the window, turned the lights on full, examined his revolver, and sat down in careless attitude beside the President's desk. He could hear his heavy step already approaching the door.