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Show - 129 - then'threw the gun at Dirk, who bent and picked it up. 1 believe he was going to kill him, but before he could pull the trigger he fell to his knees beside Claudine, the gun still in his hand. Andre' turned and fled into the darkness. "Claudine lay there breathing her last breath." The tears were streaming down Maddie's face as she spoke. The girls could only sit there completely overcome. ; "Oh, Maddie, how terrible it must have been for you and Chang Lin to witness such a tragedy." said Penny, her voice breaking. "Yes, the years can never dim the pain. Now you know why I've been reluctant to discuss the ghost of Gaven House with anyone." "Maddie, you can't stop now," pleaded Vicky. "It would be cruel to leave us hanging in mid air. What happened next?" "Of course not, I wouldn't do that, and you know it!" She pulled her handkerchief out of her apron pocket and dried her eyes. Then blew i .ft;., her nose vigorously and continued. "Yes, Claudine was dying. The young and perhaps too naive girl, whose only sin was to try to be united with the man she loved and succeeded in destroying the lives of her parents, the man she loved and even Andre' who, in his twisted way, loved her too. Dirk picked her up in his arms and held her close. Chang Lin and I could only stand there helplessly and witness the final chapter in the lives of these doomed lovers." •You cannot leave me, Claudine,' begged Dirk. 'I won't let you. You are my life.' He hugged her closely. 'If you die now I'll never rest. There will be no peace for you or for me throughout eternity.' His sobs were uncontrolable. Claudine's voice was now a mere whisper. ' If I had not married Andre" this would never have happened, Mon Amour. Please tell me that you for- |