Fortunately, it was not far. She tore up-stairs and through the door
that Balcom had left open.
Everything was as Balcom had left it, except that now the three men lay
quite still. Zita staggered over to a window and threw it open.
Next she got water and extinguished the still smoldering powder. Then,
falling on her knees, she tried to help the stricken men.
Not much time did she spend with the others, but to Locke with great
tenderness she gave most of her attention. Tenderly she bathed his brow
and frantically tried even to breathe her breath into his burning lungs.
Finally she was rewarded by seeing him open his eyes and gaze around. He
looked up at her.
"I'll atone for all the wrong I've done," she sobbed, "only--"
She would have asked him to love her, but she knew that it was useless
and the thought of Eva, caused the words to stick in her throat.
Locke did not understand, and the look on his face showed it.
"I didn't want to give you up," wailed Zita, now forgetting herself. "I
loved you. To prove it--I will help you now. The--the girl you love is
in terrible danger--you must hurry.
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