She walked to a
point near him and stood looking at him wonderingly. And now for the
first time since the beginning of their acquaintance she became aware
of a quiet indomitability in his character, the existence of which she
had suspected all along without having actually sensed it. She saw now
why men feared him. In his attitude, outwardly calm, but suggesting in
some subtle way the imminence of deadly violence; in his eyes, steady
and cold, but with something cruel and bitter and passionate slumbering
deep in them; in the set of his head and the thrust of his chin, there
was a threat--nay, more--a promise of volcanic action; of ruthless,
destroying anger.
Taggart, apparently, saw nothing of these things. He looked again at
Betty, his heavy face wreathed in an insolent half-smile. She saw the
look and instantly flushed and stiffened. But it appeared that Calumet
noticed nothing of her agitation or of Taggart's insulting glance. He
stood a little to one side of Taggart, and he spoke slowly and
distinctly:
"Taggart," he said; "meet my boss, Betty Clayton." He smiled grimly at
the consternation in Betty's face, at the black rage in Dade's.
"I have already had the honor of meeting Mr. Taggart," said Betty
coldly. "If that is what you--" She caught a glance from Calumet and
subsided.
Pages:
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137