Part 44 (1/2)
Norman turned his face away and looked over the still, blue waters, struggling with himself as he felt the tug of her soft hand on his heart.
Suddenly a hundred men with Wolf at their head sprang over the steep embankment and rushed to the dredge. Tom leaped to his feet and lifted his bomb without a word.
Norman covered Barbara and grasped his uplifted arm.
”It's all over boys. I've surrendered!” he shouted.
Barbara faced Wolf with blazing eyes:
”You have betrayed my trust!”
Wolf brushed her aside and confronted Norman, who had thrown the bomb he had taken from Tom's hand into the sea.
Norman paid no attention to Wolf, and seemed to see only the girl's face convulsed with pa.s.sion. His eyes never left her for a moment.
Wolf turned and secured the other men who had defended the dredge, marching them with their hands tied behind their backs between two rows of guardsmen off to jail.
Norman spoke at last to Barbara in low, cold tones:
”I congratulate you.”
”What do you mean?” she gasped.
”That you are a superb actress. You have played your part to perfection. Your rle was very dramatic, too. A clumsy woman would have bungled it, and lost even at the last moment.”
”You cannot believe that I willingly betrayed you?” she cried, in anguish.
”I wish I had died before I knew it,” he answered, bitterly.
Barbara pressed close to his side and seized his hand fiercely. He turned away with a shudder.
”Look at me,” she pleaded.
He turned and faced her with a look of anger.
”Words are idle. Deeds speak louder than words.”
”Norman, you are killing me with this cruel doubt!” she sobbed. ”I give up! I love you! I love you!”
She threw her arms around his neck and her head sank on his breast.
He resisted for a moment, then clasped her to his heart, bent and kissed her with pa.s.sionate tenderness.
”You believe me now?” she cried, through her tears.
”G.o.d forgive me for doubting you for a moment!” he answered, earnestly.
The guard suddenly drew Norman from her arms, tied his hands, and led him away to prison while the little figure followed, sobbing in helpless anguish.