I can
serve you and you can serve me! Your life is in danger. You
will never return if you go out in the yacht to-night. I had
prepared you for your doom, but now I will save you, and again
I tell you that there's better game ashore."
"Why should I trust you! do you not confess to having betrayed
me?"
"I only knew you then as a government detective; now I know
you are a man."
"You must have made the latter discovery very suddenly."
"I did."
"When?"
"When you knocked Sol Burton down; that man meant me harm. I
could have defended myself against him, but a greater peril
menaces me to-night."
"What peril menaces you?"
"I have no confidant in the world; shall I make one of you?"
"Yes."
"My confidence may get you into trouble."
"How sad."
"You are a brave, noble man; you will desire to act as my
champion."
"You are a strange girl."
"Yes; mine is a hard lot; I am a waif; I am nothing; I am all
outcast; a thing, and yet--"
The girl ceased. She had spoken with a wild. energy, and she
had looked ravishingly beautiful while talking.
"And yet, what?" said the detective interrogatively.
"My heart is full of all the ambitions that might fill the
heart of a girl born in the midst of splendor and luxury; and
although the companion of smugglers, I love only what is pure
and beautiful; I cherish the fondest dreams, and yet--"
Again the detective supplemented:
"Well, go on."
"I am a poor, ragged, barefooted girl, the daughter of a
boat-keeper, and that is not all!"
"Tell me all.
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