Part 36 (2/2)
”Ha, ha, ha! It is quite likely that I will! Isn't it, now? No, my duck, I haven't watched and planned for this chance for this long time past to give it up, now that you are in my power! A likely story indeed! And now the five minutes' grace are quite up!”
”Stop! Don't move yet! Before you stir, say: 'Lord, have mercy on me!”
said Capitola, solemnly.
”Ha, ha, ha! That's a pretty idea! Why should I say that?”
”Say it to please me! Only say it, Black Donald!”
”But why to please you?”
”Because I wish not to kill both your body and soul--because I would not send you prayerless into the presence of your Creator! For, Black Donald, within a few seconds your body will be hurled to swift destruction, and your soul will stand before the bar of G.o.d!” said Capitola, with her foot upon the spring of the concealed trap.
She had scarcely ceased speaking before he bounded to his feet, whirled around and confronted her, like a lion at bay, roaring forth:
”You have a revolver there, girl--move a finger and I shall throw myself upon you like an avalanche?”
”I have no revolver--watch my hands as I take them forth, and see!”
said Capitola, stretching her arms out toward him.
”What do you mean, then, by your talk of sudden destruction?” inquired Black Donald, in a voice of thunder.
”I mean that it hangs over you--that it is imminent! That it is not to be escaped! Oh, man, call on G.o.d, for you have not a minute to live!”
The outlaw gazed on her in astonishment.
Well he might, for there she stood paler than marble--sterner than fate--with no look of human feeling about her, but the gleaming light of her terrible eyes, and the beading sweat upon her death-like brow.
For an instant the outlaw gazed on her in consternation, and then, recovering himself he burst into a loud laugh, exclaiming:
”Ha, ha, ha! Well, I suppose this is what people would call a piece of splendid acting! Do you expect to frighten me, my dear, as you did Craven Le Noir, with the peas!”
”Say 'Lord have mercy on my soul'--say it. Black Donald--say it. I beseech you!” she prayed.
”Ha, ha, ha, my dear! You may say it for me! And to reward you, I will give you, such a kiss! It will put life into those marble cheeks of yours!” he laughed.
”I will say it for you! May the Lord pity and save Black Donald's soul, if that be yet possible, for the Saviour's sake!” prayed Capitola, in a broken voice, with her foot upon the concealed and fatal spring.
He laughed aloud, stretched forth his arms and rushed to clasp her.
She pressed the spring.
The drop fell with a tremendous cras.h.!.+
The outlaw shot downwards--there was an instant's vision of a white and panic-stricken face, and wild, uplifted hands as he disappeared, and then a square, black opening, was all that remained where the terrible intruder had sat.
No sight or sound came up from that horrible pit, to hint of the secrets of the prison house.
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