“If I will give you the paper, will you go away at once as quietly as you came, and leave me and everything in the house unmolested?” she asked.
“That’s the talk—now you’re sensible,” the ruffian returned, in a satisfied tone.
“Do you promise?” she persisted.
“Yes; I’ll go instanter. You see it’s very important for my future career that the little document doesn’t get into circulation; so hand it over, and I’ll be off as quiet and quick as a mouse.”
Editha drew from the envelope she had addressed to Earle the copy she had made, and passed it to him.
He reached out and took the envelope from her, and read the name written upon the back before looking at the paper.
“So, ho! you were going to send it right to headquarters, were you?—and I was just in the nick of time.”
Chuckling to himself, he unfolded the paper she had given him and began to read.
The contents seemed to amuse him immensely, for he continued to chuckle and laugh to himself all the way through; but his face grew stern and threatening as he reached the end, and Editha’s heart failed her when he said, fiercely:
“This won’t do, miss; this is only a copy, and I want the original. Hand it over quick. Did you think I would be so readily cheated?”