Part 49 (1/2)

”Are you still?”

”Yes. Always.” Her teeth clenched. ”Go on, hit me, if you want to. I love him. Love him always. Every minute. As I did. Do you hear? I love him.”

She opened her eyes and s.h.i.+vered. He was going to kill her. He tore at her clothes, beating her with his fists until her head rattled on her neck.

”I'll fix your love for him,” Brander whispered. The pain of his blows and shakings were making her dizzy.

”Frank ... dear, please....”

”Do you love him?”

”Yes.”

She tried to bury her head in her arms, but he untwisted her gesture.

His hands, striking and clawing at her, made her scream. A mist--he had seized her.

”Frank! Frank!”

”Do you love him now?”

She opened her eyes and stared wildly into Brander's face. It grinned at her. Her arms clutched his body.

”No, no!” she cried, her mouth gasping. ”Don't talk. Don't ask questions. Love ...” she laughed aloud eagerly, brazenly. Her thin arms tightened fiercely about him. ”I love this.”

CHAPTER VI

Isaac Dorn was sitting in a chair beside the gas-log fire in his son's apartment. His thin fingers lay motionless on his knees. His head had fallen forward.

It was early evening when his son entered the room. Dorn paused and looked at the silent figure in the chair. The old man raised his head as if he had been spoken to and muttered. ”Eh?”