Mike. He wasn't worthy of any girl's love. But I want you to know that I had no idea you two were married. I thought he was just going to take advantage of you, as he had so many other girls. That's why I—I bumped him off."
A tenderness had come into Tony's voice. He caught himself as he saw her staring at him, wide-eyed.
"What's the matter?" he demanded.
"N-n-nothing. For a minute, you seemed so much like—somebody I—I once knew."
Tony breathed hoarsely for an instant and turned away so that she could see only the scarred side of his face. She had almost recognized him.
"I'm sorry about Mike. But it just had to be," he said doggedly. "And you'll be a lot better off. Some day you'll thank me for what I did. So run along and forget Mike. And from now on, be careful of the guys you pick. You're too nice a girl to be chasing around with gunmen."
"How would you like to mind your own business?" she blazed, her eyes glistening with incipient tears.
"Fine. You might do the same. And don't try to poison any more gang leaders; some of 'em might not like it. . . . If you need any money—"
