"Tchah!"
He turned away and strode across to his horse. The woman's voice came to him low, despairing, appealing.
"For God's sake, Jeff, don't go! You won't go! They'll kill you! Oh,
God! Jeff! Oh!"
The final exclamation came in a sort of moan as the man swung himself into the saddle, and, without a word, turned his horse and rode away.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE HEARTS OF TWO WOMEN
The figure was silent, motionless upon the veranda. The eyes were dull and lifeless. It was as though paralysis held the woman in its grip.
"Tchah!"
The echo of that fierce expletive remained. It rang through heart and brain. Its sting was hot. It seared its way through the life channels and blasted all hope.
Was there ever such contempt, such scorn, such repulsion, concentrated in one single ejaculation! It told the woman everything. It told of a failure so complete that hope became an emotion driven forever from her heart. It told her that the usury of life was beyond all belief. It told her that the interest demanded for every pledged moment was without pity, or mercy, or justice. Now she knew how she had pawned, and, oh God, the interest which was being torn from her!