Before answering her he fastened the door behind him, left it and went to the sitting-room door, peered quickly into the room and swung the door shut, barring it.

Betty stood beside the table, watching him with a sort of fascination, a little color now in her face, though she lacked the power to speak or to interfere with Taggart's movements.
When he had barred the sitting-room door he came and stood beside the table, and there was a repulsive, insulting leer on his face as he looked down at her.
"Do you know what I came here for ?" he said.
"No," she answered.
He reached out suddenly and grasped her hands, pulling her roughly over to him.

She gave a startled cry and then stood silent before him, slender and white, a subdued little figure dwarfed by his huge bulk, seemingly helpless.
"I'll tell you," he said, the strange hoarseness of deep passion in his voice.

"Me an' my dad are leavin' the country tonight.

We sold the Arrow today, an' by this time tomorrow we'll be among the missin' in this section of the country.