on the bone handle."

"What!" exclaimed Neville, amazed.

The doctor shrugged: "I don't know of any fierce and vicious dogs
between here and Estwich, either," he mused.

"No, Cardemon keeps none. And its mostly his estate."

"Oh ... Any--h'm!--vicious _men_--in his employment?"

"My God!" whispered Neville, "what do you mean, Billy?"

"Finger imprints--black and blue--on both arms. Didn't Miss West say
anything that might enlighten _you_?"

"No ... She only said she had been lost.... Wait a moment; I'm trying to
think of the men Cardemon employs--"

He was ashy white and trembling, and the doctor laid a steadying hand on
his arm.

"Hold on, Louis," he said sharply, "it was no _worse_ than a fright. _Do
you understand_?... And do you understand, too, that an innocent and
sensitive and modest girl would rather die than have such a thing made
public through your well-meant activity? So there's nothing for anybody
to do--yet."

Neville could scarcely speak.

"Do you mean--she was attacked by some--man!"

"It looks like it. And--you'd better keep it from your family--because
_she_ did. She's game to the core--that little girl."

"But she--she'll tell me!" stammered Neville--she's _got_ to tell me--"

"She won't if she can help it. Would it aid her any if you found out who
it was and killed him?--ran for a gun and did a little murdering some
pleasant morning--just to show your chivalrous consideration and
devotion to her?"

"Are you asking me to let a beast like that go unpunished?" demanded
Neville violently.

"Oh, use your brains, Louis. He frightened her and she slashed him well
for it. And, womanlike--after there was no more danger and no more
necessity for pluck--she got scared and ran; and the farther she ran the
more scared she became. Look here, Louis; look at me--squarely." He laid
both ponderous hands on Neville's shoulders:

"Sam has told me all about you and Miss West--and I can guess how your
family takes it. Can't you see why she had the pluck to remain silent
about this thing? It was because she saw in it the brutal contempt of
the world toward a woman who stood in that world alone, unsupported,
unprotected. And she would not have you and your family know how lightly
the world held the woman whom you love and wish to marry--not for her
own sake alone--but for the sake of your family's pride--and yours."

His hands dropped from Neville's shoulders; he stood considering him for
a moment in