"
Dora was clever and played her cards cleverly. However, Eva was on
guard.
"Please come to the point," she insisted. "Tell me exactly why you have
come."
Dora paused a moment, then replied, impressively, "I have come to save
your father's life."
Eva caught herself almost gasping in astonishment as Dora covertly
watched the effect of her words. "You have the antidote, then?" asked
Eva, breathlessly.
"Not exactly that," replied Dora, quickly. "But I can take you where you
can obtain it. A man has arrived from Madagascar who has it in his
possession."
"What shall I do?" almost wailed the poor girl. "How can I know that you
speak the truth?"
Dora's voice now assumed a cold decisiveness. "That is for you to
decide," she said merely. "Refuse to come with me and your father will
surely die of his madness. Consent--and he may live."
Eva could hesitate no longer. Bidding Dora wait, she ran up the stairs,
returning in a few moments garbed for the street.
They left the house together, but not before the butler had
surreptitiously slipped a large automatic into Eva's hand-bag.
In the Chinese temple, or Joss-house, the last devotee had departed.
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