"Axin yer pardon m'am, but I must hurry now."
John rose and the trooper again drew his handcuffs, Stella watching him with wide-set eyes.
"I'm sorry, sir, I'll have to put 'em on."
"It's all right, sergeant," he answered.
Stella sprang between them and placed a trembling little hand on the trooper's.
"Please, sergeant!"
"Orders, m'am, I'm sorry."
"Please—for—my—sake—don't. He'll go with you. I tried to get him to fly with me, and he wouldn't. You won't put them on him—will you? For my sake?"
Her voice sank to the softest music of tears. The sergeant hesitated a moment and said gruffly:
"All right, for your sake, m'am, I won't."
John stooped and kissed her. The door closed behind him and with a low piteous moan Stella sank to the floor, crying:
"God have mercy on me!"
