The young girl was completely taken aback by this offer of McGinnis to make her his wife, after murdering the one he now possessed.
She was unable to say a word.
McGinnis construed her silence in another way, and advancing, would have kissed Helen, had not she retreated, holding up her hands to ward him off, her face expressive of horror and deep disgust.
He pursued her.
Helen faced him, her back to the wall.
"Keep away—leave me alone," she cried. "Keep away, or I will shriek until somebody hears me."
Her tone was a determined one, and McGinnis was shrewd enough to see that it would be foolish to bother her any farther, or her cries might be heard, and be the means of getting him into serious trouble.
He backed away, and, with an oath on his lips, went up-stairs, banging shut the trap-door behind him.
A number of times he brought her meals down to her, but never again attempted to renew his suit.
Then one night Joseph Brown paid him another visit, and they held a long conference together.