The Diamond Cross Mystery Part 43

His tones had the cutting coldness of steel, and there was a sort of restrained cruelty in his every action.

"I suppose it would not be wise to be seen talking to you here," was the woman's low reply. "And, believe me, I have no desire to be seen with you again, ever. It was only your promise in the note that brought me here. Are you prepared to keep it if I walk a way with you?"

"I am! This is no more pleasant for me than for you, but it must be done. Come!"

He did not offer to touch her, nor did he turn his head more than half way in speaking to her. He seemed to be controlling himself by an effort, and she seemed to shrink away. Again she looked back, down the fast-darkening street, as though to make sure there was a way of escape--some one near on whom she could rely.

"Don't worry. I'll be there when you have your little talk," whispered the colonel to himself.

"Suppose we walk up on The Heights," suggested the man. "We will not be disturbed, and--"

"Up there?" she gasped.

"Why not?" he asked, as they walked on, and the colonel, affecting a slowness in gait, heard the words. "Just because you used to walk there in your--in other days," he subst.i.tuted quickly, "is no reason why you shouldn't now, is it?"

"Only--_memories_!" Her voice was very low.

"Memories? Bah!" The words were as though he spewed them from his mouth like a bitter taste. "Come on!" and his tones were rough.

The woman looked at him a moment with eyes that seemed to burn through her veil, and then followed. The colonel pa.s.sed on ahead, slouched across the street once more, and lagged behind, so that he might follow.

The couple turned toward the outskirts of the village, where, on a hill, known locally as "The Heights" there was a grove of trees. Below the hill, at one place cutting deep into it and making a precipitous cliff, was a little river. At the point where the stream had bitten into the hill it had washed for itself a defile, the bottom rock-covered, so that the waters swirled over it in foam.

The Heights was the favorite trysting place of lovers, and many were the pleasant spots there. With evening coming on, it was almost sure to be deserted, though later, if there was a moon, murmuring voices would mingle with the eclipse of the swirling waters in the gully below.

"Yes, it's a quiet place for a talk," mused the colonel.

The man and woman pa.s.sed on. Behind them came the shadower, and behind him Aaron Grafton.

Up The Heights walked the leading pair, seemingly unaware of the presence of any one but themselves. Into the shadows they strolled, still stiff and uncompromising, both of them. At last the woman, halting near the edge of the cliff, beyond which the woods were thicker, faced the man.

"This is far enough," she said, and she turned so that the fast-fading light of the west was on her veiled face. She did not raise the mesh.

"Yes, this is far enough, I suppose," said the man, and there was a sneer in his tones. "Too far, perhaps. But--"

"I did not come here to discuss anything with you but the matter you spoke of in your note," cut in the woman. "Did you bring my diamonds as you promised?"

"Yes, I have them."

His voice was as cold as hers.

"Then give them to me and let me go. I don't know why I consented to meet you, except that you said you would give them only to me, personally. And I don't, even for that, know why I came here. I--"

"Possibly in memory of other days?" the man sneered.

"Never!" she answered bitterly. "Oh, never that!"

"Well, as you choose," he went on, with a slight shrug of the shoulders. "But I have a few things I want to say to you, and I didn't want the whole village babbling about it. Too many know me here, so I kept out of sight as much as I could."

"Say what you have to say, and quickly. Give me my diamonds, to which I have a right, and let me go. That is all I ask of you."

"I'm afraid it can't be done so quickly as all that," and the man laughed cuttingly. "In the first place, I want you to sign a paper. I have it with me, also a fountain pen. I've a flashlight to let you read what you sign, in case it gets too dark."

"Do you mean a receipt for the diamonds?"

"Not exactly, Cynthia, I--"

"Miss Ratchford, if you please!" she exclaimed. "Miss Ratchford to you, always, after this!"

"Oh, very well! Now look here! I'm done with soft words and foolishness!"

He took a sudden step nearer her, and she shrank back. Colonel Ashley, who had worked himself to a position, where, hidden behind a screen of bushes, he could see and hear, watched closely.

"Foolishness?" the woman questioned.

"Yes, foolishness! You know the trouble I'm in. I've got to have money! You can get it for me!"

"I?"

"Yes. And, by the eternal, you've got to! Do you think I'm going to ruin just because you couldn't stand a little rough treatment now and then? Why, better women than you would be glad to come back to me.

I'll take you back!"

"Take me back! Oh, my G.o.d!"

"Cut out that hysterical stuff!" he ordered. "I'm desperate! I've got to have money. I can raise it on a note if you'll sign it and put up those bonds for security, and by--"

He caught her wrist in a grip that made her wince with pain as he swung her around to face him.

"I've got to have your signature and the bonds!" he exclaimed in voice tense with suppressed pa.s.sion.

"The bonds!" she exclaimed. "You know what almost became of them. I let you raise money on them once, and almost lost them. Now you dare ask me for them again?"

"I do, and I'm going to enforce my demands! I've got to have money. I darn't sell your diamonds--at least I don't want to. I'd rather you'd have them," and he seemed to weaken as if with romance when it came to this sentiment. "As for the bonds--"

"You'll never touch them!" she cried, bitterly. "Isn't it enough that you have ruined my life? Now you must--"

"Oh, stop the theatrical business!" he sneered. "Pity you didn't go on the stage. Now look here. This is your last chance. I'll give you your diamonds if you'll sign this paper so I can get out of the tangle I'm in. You've got to sign! It's your last chance. If you don't, by all the--"

She tore herself away from him, and turned to flee, but he was too quick for her, and was about to encircle her in his arms when she shrank back and gave a despairing cry.

"Don't--don't touch me!"

This seemed to madden the man, for he sprang toward her, fury and threat in every gesture.

"Aaron! Aaron! He's going to kill me!" screamed Cynthia.

Thought was not quicker than the leaping forward of Colonel Ashley.

Out from the shadows he sprang, to whirl back the man who, with blazing eyes and murderous hate written on his face, confronted Cynthia Ratchford.