And if the man were there for any good purpose he would have made his
presence known to Nyland, and would not have hidden himself in the
kitchen, to peer at Nyland through one of the windows.
Nyland was convinced that Peggy had been foully dealt with. But haste
and recklessness would avail Nyland little. The great mingled rage and
anxiety that had seized him demanded instant action, but he fought it
down; and when he turned toward the house and began to walk toward the
kitchen door, his manner--outwardly--was that of a man who has seen
nothing to arouse his suspicions.
Yet despite the appearance of calm he was alert, and every muscle and
sinew of his body was tensed for instant action. And so, when he had
approached to within a dozen feet of the kitchen door, and a man's
figure darkened the opening, he dove sidewise, drawing his gun as he
went down and snapping a shot at the figure he had seen.
So rapid were his movements, and so well timed was his fall, that he
was halfway to the ground when the flash came from the doorway.
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