James Oliver Curwood

The Hunted Woman James Oliver Curwood

Book Excerptt was not the usual giggling, the usual exchange of badinage and coarse jest beyond the closed curtains. Quade did not come out rubbing his huge hands, his face crinkling with a sort of exultant satisfaction. The girl preceded him. She flung the curtains aside and stood there for a moment, her face flaming like fire, her blue eyes filled with the flash of lightning. She came down the single step. Quade followed her. He put out a hand."Don't take offence, girly," he expostulated. "Look here--ain't it reasonable to s'pose----"He got no farther. The man in the door had advanced, placing himself at the girl's side. His voice was low and unexcited."You have made a mistake?" he said. She took him in at a glance--his clean-cut, strangely attractive face, his slim build, the clear and steady gray of his eyes."Yes, I have made a mistake--a terrible mistake!""I tell you it ain't fair to take offence," Quade went on. "Now, look here----"In his hand was a roll of bil