Twenty seconds more and they would have had him.

And then-- He drew in a deep breath and gently uncovered her face.

Her hands shivered in his.

And then a great throb of joy repaid him for his venture into the jaws of death as he saw the way in which her beautiful eyes were looking at him.
"Celie--my little mystery girl--I've discovered something," he cried huskily, holding her hands so tightly that it must have hurt her.

"I'm almost glad you can't understand me, for I wouldn't blame you for being afraid of a man who told you he loved you an hour or two after he first saw you.