Miss Hardy followed, closing the door behind her, the revolver now held in plain view.
"Up the stairs, and turn to the left," she commanded briefly.
The short, stern, business-like tone in which this order was uttered might have been amusing under other conditions, but scarcely so then when I was smarting under defeat.

I glanced back, half tempted to endeavor a sudden leap; yet she was fully prepared, and I hesitated.
Would she actually shoot me down?
Could it be possible the girl would take my life?
I could scarcely conceive of such a probability, she seemed so womanly in every way, so light-hearted, and yet there was no laugh now in her eyes, no lack of determination in the firm setting of her lips.
"Suppose I refuse!" "I sincerely hope you will not, Lieutenant.

This is hard enough for me; don't make it any harder." There could be no doubting what she meant, nor what she had nerved herself to accomplish.

Feeling like a whipped cur I went slowly up the broad stairs, my hand on the banister rail, and she followed, keeping even pace with me, the cocked Colt pointing sternly upward at my back.
"The last door--yes, beyond the chimney.

Step inside, Lieutenant Galesworth.