The Crimson Gardenia and Other Tales of Adventure
scalpel, leaving a ragged disfiguring cross above the gambler's eyes; it
scarred the bone; it formed a hideous mutilation that would last as long
as the fellow lived, and constitute a brand of infamy to single him out
from ten thousand, telling the story of his dishonor.
When he had finished, McGill raised the wretch bodily and flung him half
across the room as if he were unclean, then, without a glance to right
or left, he went forth as he had come.
His wife was waiting with her ears covered, but she saw the blood on his
hands when she opened her eyes, and cried out.
"It's his," he told her, roughly. "I don't think I killed him. I tried
not to, for her sake." He inclined his head toward the inner door. "But
it was hard to hold in, after all this time. He'll never trouble you
again."
"When do you--mean to take the baby?" she whispered.
"Now--She--"
"No, no! Not yet. Let her stay here a little while--till I'm strong
enough to let her go. Just a little while, McGill. You're a good man.
Don't you understand?" She was palsied, incoherent with dread; in her
eyes was a look of death.
But he held out his empty arms, crying, hoarsely, "Let me have my
kiddie!"
So she went in and gathered up the sleeping babe.
It may have been the father's heart-beats that awakened the little one
when she lay against his breast; at any rate the blue eyes opened and
stared up at him gravely. Astonishment, alarm gave way to recognition;
she smiled drowsily and her lids closed again, then a tiny hand curled
about one of McGill's fingers.
His face was wet when he raised it to the stricken woman and said,
gently, "We'll go now, if you're ready, Alice."
"What do you--?" She stared at him wildly. "You don't want _me_, McGill;
not after all I've done, all I--am?"
"I've always wanted you," he told her, simply. "You'll have to come, for
_she_ needs you." Holding the baby close with one arm, he extended the
other to his wife, but she drew back, choking.
"Not yet!" she managed to say through her tears. "Not until you know I'm
not all bad--only weak."
He took her hand and together they went out, walking slowly so as not to
awaken the child.
THE END
Books by REX BEACH
THE CRIMSON GARDENIA AND OTHER TALES OF ADVENTURE.
HEART OF THE SUNSET.
THE AUCTION BLOCK.
THE IRON TRAIL.
THE NET.
THE NE'ER-DO-WELL.
THE SPOILERS.
THE BARRIER.
THE SILVER HORDE.
GOING SOME.