"Now you must tell me, Berna. It will worry me indeed if you don't."
Once more she refused. I pleaded with her gently. I coaxed, I entreated. She was very reluctant, yet at last she yielded.
"Well, if I must," she said; "but it's all so sordid, so mean, I hate myself; I despise myself that I should have to tell it."
She kneaded a tiny handkerchief nervously in her fingers.
"You know how nice Madam Winklestein's been to me lately--bought me new clothes, given me trinkets. Well, there's a reason--she's got her eye on a man for me."
"Yes; you know she's let us go together--it's all to draw him on. Oh, couldn't you see it? Didn't you suspect something? You don't know how bitterly they hate you."
"Have you heard of him?" she asked. "He's got a million-dollar claim on Bonanza."
Had I heard of him! Who had not heard of Black Jack, his spectacular poker plays, his meteoric rise, his theatric display?
"Of course he's married," she went on, "but that doesn't matter up here. There's such a thing as a Klondike marriage, and they say he behaves well to his discarded mis----"
"Berna!" angry and aghast, I had stopped her. "Never let me hear you utter that word. Even to say it seems pollution."
"What's this whole life but pollution?... Well, anyway, he wants me."
"What do you take me for? Surely you know me better than that. Oh, you almost make me hate you."
Suddenly she pressed the little handkerchief to her eyes. She fell to sobbing convulsively. Vainly I tried to soothe her, whispering:
"Oh, my dear, tell me all about it. I'm sorry, girl, I'm sorry."
She ceased crying. She went on in her fierce, excited way.
"He came to the restaurant in Bennett. He used to watch me a lot. His eyes were always following me. I was afraid. I trembled when I served him. He liked to see me tremble, it gave him a feeling of power. Then he took to giving me presents, a diamond ring, a heart-shaped locket, costly gifts. I wanted to return them, but she wouldn't let me, took them from me, put them away. Then he and she had long talks. I know it was all about me. That was why I came to you that night and begged you to marry me--to save me from him. Now it's gone from bad to worse. The net's closing round me in spite of my flutterings."