“Wait!” she cried. “I will be back in a second. Open the desk and take all the money, and then I will be back.”
It seemed to him but an instant—Eulie had gone and had returned. He was still kneeling—almost petrified with amazement. Eulie held out an old, stained, leather pocketbook.
“It is all mine,” she whispered. “Take it. Run! You must not wait!”
Slowly he rose to his feet. Once or twice he passed his hand over his eyes as if he feared he was dreaming.
There was a world of incredulity, of bewilderment, of questioning in his voice.
“Oh, do not stay!” cried the poor girl. “They will be looking for you. Go, before it is too late. Go far away. They will never find you.”
“I do not understand,” he said, slowly. “What does it mean?”
A sudden weakness overcame Eulie, and she burst into tears. He advanced toward her.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked. Eulie could not speak. Her frame was convulsed with sobbing; the tears were streaming down her cheeks; David, open-mouthed, stood gazing at her. The pocketbook had fallen from her hand, and a small heap of bank notes had slipped from it. David looked at them; then at her. Slowly he advanced to where she stood. As gently as he could he drew her hands from her face and turned her head toward the light in the hall.
The blood coursed to her cheeks. Her gaze fell. She tore herself from his clasp.
“For God’s sake, go!” she cried. He restored the money to the pocketbook and placed it in her hands. Then he started toward the door.
“You will not take it?” she asked, piteously. “It is all mine. I give it to you freely. Borrow it if you like. Some day you can send it back.”
He shook his head, stood irresolute for a moment, then returned to her.
“Eulie,” he whispered. “My mother is dead. But in heaven she is blessing you!”
Then he kissed her upon the forehead and walked determinedly out of the room. Eulie stood swaying to and fro, for a moment, then tottered and fell to the floor. David stood on the stairs a full minute, breathing heavily, like a man who has been running. Then his teeth clicked tightly together, he drew a long breath, walked briskly down the steps, and strode into the brilliantly lighted coffee house.
He knew the man at once. He had never seen him before, but unerring instinct pointed out his pursuer. He walked straight toward him.