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Page 66
"What of my promise--my promise to marry Dick? Where is he?"
moaned the girl.
"He's gone back to the desert."
Over her swept the memory of the terrible dream. Dick dying of
thirst in the desert, calling for her; crushed to the earth by
Jack after battling the awful silence. She moved to the middle
of the room, as if following the summons.
"The desert, my dream," she whispered, in awe.
"He is gone out of our lives forever," cried Jack, facing her
with arms outstretched.
"And you let him go away in the belief that I knew him to be
living?" accused the wife.
"What will not a man do to keep the woman he loves? Dick Lane
has gone from our lives, he will never return," argued Jack.
"He must," screamed Echo. "There is a crime charged against
you--he must return to prove your story as to the money--He must
know through your own lips the lie that separated us."
"You love him--you love him." Jack kept repeating the words,
aghast at the knowledge that Echo seemed to be forcing upon him.
"Bring him back to me." Firmly she spoke.
Jack gazed at her in fear. Chokingly he cried again: "You love
him!"
"I don't know. All I know is that he has suffered, is suffering
now, through your treachery; bring him back to me, that I may
stand face to face with him, and say: 'I have not lied to you, I
have not betrayed your trust.'"
"You love him," he repeated.
"Find him--bring him back."
Jack was helpless, speechless. Echo's attitude overpowered him.
The wife staggered again to the piano, slowly sinking to the
seat. She had turned her back on him. This action hurt him more
than any word she had spoken. Her face was buried in her hands.
Deep sobs shook her shoulders.
Jack followed her, to take her again in his arms, but she made no
sign of forgiveness. Turning, he strode to the rack, and took
down his hat and cartridge-belt. Picking up his rifle, he firmly
declared: "I will go. I'll search the plains, the mountains,
and the deserts to find this man. I will offer my life, if it
will serve to place the life you love beside you. Good-bye."
The sound of the closing of the door roused Echo to a full
realization of what she had done. She had driven the one man she
really loved out of her life; sent him forth to wander over the
face of the earth in search of Dick Lane, for whom she no longer
cared. She must bring her husband back. She must know that he
alone had her heart in his keeping.
"No, no, Jack--come back!" she called. "I love you, and you
alone--come back! come back!"
Before she could throw open the door and summon him back to
happiness and trust, Bud, who had heard the full confession from
the room in which he had taken refuge when he thought Buck would
throw the blame on Jack, caught her by the arm.
"Stop!" he commanded.
"Bud Lane!" exclaimed Echo, "you have heard--"
"I've heard--my brother--he is alive!"
Bud spoke rapidly. His belief was confirmed. He would have full
revenge for what his brother had suffered at Payson's hands.
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