o visit her at odd moments.
It's her idea of fidelity, and it's true that he did take her in when
she needed somebody. There's a move on foot now, to arrest him for an
old crime--a murder. I witnessed the deed--I'll testify, if called on.
Lahoma will hate me for that--but it'll be the greatest favor I could
possibly do her. She knows I mean to appear against him, and she
thinks me a brute. But if I can convict Willock, it'll place Lahoma in
a family of wealth and refinement--"

He broke off with, "Wonder why that old deaf boatman doesn't come?" He
walked impatiently to the head of the steps and stared out over the
lake. "Somebody out there now," he exclaimed. "Oh,--it's Edgerton,
rowing about!"

He returned to the bench, but did not sit down. "Annabel," he said
abruptly, "you promised me to name the day, this morning."

"Yes," she responded very faintly.

"And I am sure, dear," he added in a deep resonant voice, "that in time
you will come to care for me as I care for you now--you, the only woman
I have ever loved. I understand about Edgerton, but you see, you
couldn't marry him--in fact, he couldn't marry anybody for years; he
has nothing.... And these earlier attachments that we think the
biggest things in our lives--well, they just dwindle, Annabel, they
dwindle as we get the true perspective. I know your happiness depends
upon me, and it rejoices me to know it. I can give you all you
want--all you can dream of--and I'm man-of-the-world enough to
understand that happiness depends just on that--getting what you want."

Annabel started up abruptly. "I think I heard the boat scraping
outside."

"Yes, he's there. Come, dear, and before the ride is ended you must
name the day--"

"DON'T!" she exclaimed sharply. "He--"

"He's as deaf as a post, my dear," Gledware murmured gently. "That's
why I selected him. I knew we'd want to talk--I knew you'd name the
day."

He helped her down the rattling boards.

Brick Willock rose softly and stole toward the opening, his eyes filled
with a strange light. They no longer glared with the blood-lust of a
wild beast, but showed gloomy and perplexed; the words spoken
concerning himself had sunk deep.

The boatman sat with his back to Gledware and Annabel. He wore a long
dingy coat of light gray and a huge battered straw hat, whose wide brim
hid his hair and almost eclipsed his face. Willock, careful not to
show himself, stared at the skiff as it shot out f