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Show - 127 - are. free to join us. I will write you. Goodbye, father.' At this point Penny remembered that Chang Lin had told her that Dirk had provided for him. Dirk turned to help Claudine into the automobile. Then out of the darkness a voice rang out like a shot. 'Monsieur Dirk Vallone, do you believe that you can take my bride and run off like a thief in the night?' The words were followed by a sinister laugh and out of the shadows strode Andre'. He was unshaven and his clothes were wrinkled and dirty. It was obvious he had been drinking. He wore a long overcoat and the upper part of his face was hidden by the brim of his hat. Any resemblance to the fastidious young Frenchman who had crossed the ocean to marry the young lovely daughter of the Gavens was certainly not in evidence this night. There was an ugly sneer on his face. 'You low born scum, I really believe you thought you could succeed in your plan to steal my wife away from me!' "I was so shocked at Andre's appearance, said Maddie, "That I hadn't noticed until then he had a gun in his gloved hand. At the moment all I could think of was that our plans to escape were known to him all along. He had deliberately allowed us to leave the house and then followed. I was abruptly brought back to the present when I heard Dirk speak with restraint in his voice. 'No piece of paper can ever .make Claudine your wife. We promised ourselves to each other a long time ago as children. She doesn't belong to you and never will as long as I live. Claudine tried to please her parents when she agreed to marry you. Not because of any love for you. I'm truly sorry it had to come to this, but here was no other alternative.!' 'Walt, Andre',1 pleaded Claudine. 'You must understand that what Dirk says is true. I love only him. I am sorry to do this to you, but I cannot |