He wants to catch the southbound
train. I am going to stop him."
"No, no!" Dolly sprang forward, desperately clutching his arm. "He
will shoot you."
"I _must_ do it!" Saunders caught both her hands in his and pressed
them. "You must let me--I have never been able to help you in any way,
and I have always wanted to. I'd give my life to--to be of service to
you to-night. I feel this thing, little friend. I must do something--I
simply must!"
"I don't know what to say or do." Dolly clung to his hands
desperately. She raised them spasmodically and unconsciously pressed
them against her throbbing breast. "Oh, Mr. Saunders, it is so--so
awful to be suspected of being bad when I--when I--"
"When you are the purest, sweetest child that ever breathed," he
cried, fiercely. "They sha'n't start gossip about you." He dropped her
hands and turned his horse round quickly. "I'll overtake him and stop
him." He glanced at his watch. "I have no time to lose. I must go. Be
brave, Dolly. It will come out right--it _must!_" He swung himself
into his saddle; she clung to his foot which he was trying to put into
the stirrup.
"He will kill you, too," she sobbed, "and I'll have _that_ on my head
also. Oh, Mr. Saunders--"
Gently he drew his foot from her clutch.
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