“‘The man is a fool that wants to go out in a night like this,’ quoth the fellow with a dogged move; ’and so are you to encourage it.  I think too much of your health to allow it.’

“She did not seem to hear.  ‘Will you open the door?’ she went on, not advancing a step from the fire, before which she had placed herself and me.’

“‘No, I won’t,’ was the brutal reply.  ’Its been locked for the night and its not me nor one like me, that will open it.’

“With a sudden whitening of her already pale face, she turned towards her father.  He was not even looking at her.

“‘Some one must open the house,’ said she, glancing back at her brother.  ’This gentleman purposes to leave and his whim must be humored.  Will you unlock that door or shall I?’

“An angry snarl interrupted her.  Her father had bounded from the door where he stood and was striding hastily towards her.  In my apprehension I put up my arm for a shield, for he looked ready to murder her, but I let it drop again as l caught her glance which was like white flame undisturbed by the least breeze of personal terror.

“‘You will stop there,’ said she, pointing to a spot a few feet from where she stood.  ’Another step and I let that for which I have heard you declare you would peril your very soul, fall into the heart of the flames.’  And drawing from her breast a roll of bills, she stretched them out above the fire before which she was standing.

“‘You -----’ broke from the gray-bearded lips of the old man, but he
stopped where he was, eyeing those bills as if fascinated.

“‘I am not a girl of many words, as you know,’ continued she in a lofty tone inexpressibly commanding.  ’You may strangle me, you may kill me, it matters little; but this gentleman leaves the house this night, or I destroy the money with a gesture.’

“‘You -----’ again broke from those quivering lips, but the old man
did not move.

“Not so the younger.  With a rush he left his post and in another instant would have had his powerful arms about her slender form, only that I met him half way with a blow that laid him on the floor at her feet.  She said nothing, but one of the bills immediately left her hand and fluttered into the fire where it instantly shrivelled into nothing.

“With the yell of a mad beast wounded in his most vulnerable spot, the old man before us stamped with his heel upon the floor.

“‘Stop!’ cried he; and going rapidly to the front door he opened it.  ‘There!’ shrieked he, ’if you will be fools, go! and may the lightning blast you.  But first give me the money.’

“‘Come from the door,’ said she, reaching out her left hand for the lantern hanging at the side of the fireplace, ’and let Karl light this and keep himself out of the way.’

“It was all done.  In less time than I can tell it, the old man had stepped from the door, the younger one had lit the lantern and we were in readiness to depart.