At the sight of Mary with the knife he scowled blackly, laid the
tray down, and took a few steps in her direction. She brandished
the knife threateningly, then, as if her nerve failed her, fainted
letting the knife fall carefully on the floor so that it struck on
the handle and not on the blade.
Long quickly caught her as she fainted and carried her out of the
room, banging shut the door. Elaine followed in a moment, loyally,
to protect her supposed friend, but found that the door had a snap
lock on the other side.
She looked about wildly and in a moment Long reappeared. As he
advanced slowly and insinuatingly, she drew back, pleading. But
her words fell on seemingly deaf ears.
She had picked up the knife which Mary had dropped and when at
last Long maneuvred to get her cornered and was about to seize
her, she nerved herself up and stabbed him resolutely.
Long staggered back--and fell.
As he did so, he pressed the bladder which he had already placed
under his coat. A dark red fluid, like blood, oozed out all over
him and ran in a pool on the floor.
Elaine, too horror-stricken at what had happened even to scream,
dropped the knife and bent over him. He did not move. She
staggered back and ran through the now open door. As she did so,
Long seemed suddenly to come to life. He raised himself and looked
after her, then with a subtle smile sank back into his former
assumed posture on the floor.
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