He was the embodiment of the dominant
male,--efficient to the last inch of his straight six feet. What he
wanted he had always taken, by the sheer strength that was in him. Back
of her smiling insolence lay a silken force to match his own. She too
had taken what she wanted from life, but she had won it by indirection.
Manifestly she was of those women who conceive that charm and beauty
are tools to bend men to their wills. Was it the very width of the gulf
between them that made the appeal of the clash in the sex duel upon
which they had engaged?
The dusky young woman with the magazine was the first of those on
the upper deck to retire for the night. She flitted so quietly that
Gordon did not notice until she had gone. Mrs. Selfridge and her friends
disappeared with their men folks, calling gay good-nights to one another
as they left.
Macdonald and Mrs. Mallory still talked. After a time she too vanished.
The big promoter leaned against the deck rail, where he was joined by
Selfridge. For a long time they talked in low voices. The little man had
most to say. His chief listened, but occasionally interrupted to ask a
sharp, incisive question.
Elliot, sitting farther forward with Strong, judged that Selfridge was
making a report of his trip.
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