Read Online Strange Yesterday by Howard Fast - Free Book Online Page B

to the girl, he saw that her head was thrown back, and that her dark eyes blazed with light. And for the first time he noticed how heavy her hair was, and how it spread, and lay upon her bare neck.
    Replying to the contempt in her gaze, he nodded. “Yes,” he agreed, “he is something of a pig,” moving his head just a bit in the direction of the doors.
    â€œWho are you?” she demanded. “What do you mean by breaking in like this?—and what do you want?”
    â€œMy name is John Ridge. I do what I please, and I account for my actions to no man—or woman. I want certain things in this house—and you.”
    â€œThat,” the girl said coolly, “is rather melodramatic. You are an unusual thief. I believe that I have seen you somewhere before.”
    And with a sudden flash of light, John Preswick knew that she had, and he thought that he would see her again, and she him. But then, as quickly, the light faded, and what for an instant he had grasped fell through his fingers.
    â€œIf you had,” John Preswick smiled, “you would remember me. But enough of that! Will you come in the manner of a lady, or will you scream and be objectionable? In the latter case, I shall throttle you.”
    â€œYou are a pleasant person,” the girl remarked, seeming not at all disturbed. Staring into her wide, dark eyes, John Preswick could not help but admire her. She might have been in the stars, looking down upon him condescendingly.
    The older woman spoke—slowly, in a half-hesitating, broken manner, with no defiance, with no fear: “Tell me who you are.”
    â€œI have told you. My name is John Ridge, and I don’t care if the world knows it!”
    â€œThat is your name?”
    â€œYes. And now—”
    â€œBut you cannot take her! She is my daughter. She is the only thing I have that I value. Oh, there is money a-plenty in this house, and jewels—to such a sum as you would never dream of. Have it all, only—”
    â€œMother,” the girl interrupted her.
    Still in the chair, without the strength to rise, she said: “Inez, if they take you—”
    â€œIf it is ransom,” said the girl, “we can pay well.”
    â€œIt is not ransom.”
    â€œYou are a fool. You cannot leave this house. There are the servants.”
    â€œThe servants have been taken care of.”
    â€œThe crime is death in New York.”
    â€œDo you imagine, my lady, that I am impressed unduly by such rewards?”
    â€œOh, what do you want?”
    Wearily he shrugged. “My lady, you are making the worse of an already poor situation.” But she was damnably, unreasonably beautiful!
    Her mother said, with slow emphasis: “I thought, at first, that you were another. It is still in your eyes, the same look, the same expression, the same unfeeling, lifeless voice. For that I can love you. Whoever you are, you must not do this.”
    He exclaimed, shaking his head: “This is all a mad-house! I do not want you, old woman.” And to the girl: “Will you come, or must I call for my men and bind and gag you and roll you up in a bundle like that nigger servant of yours?”
    â€œI will come,” she replied calmly. She went about the table, bent and kissed her mother. The gray-haired woman held to her, but she drew herself away.
    â€œInez—”
    â€œBut you can do nothing, Mother. It is better this way.”
    â€œAfter all,” he said to himself, “she is nothing but a Jewess, which should allow much,” and aloud: “I have no scruples towards shooting either of you. If your mother makes a sound, I shall shoot you, not her. I shall shoot very low—”
    Then she laughed at him, exclaiming: “What a child you are! What a little boy! Do you imagine that you frighten me? Do you think that for myself I would be afraid of that pretty pistol of yours! My father laughed in the face of a thousand