t have it--hear? Otherwise I shall take
steps to make you tell--and that may not be as confidential as a chat
here with me. I propose to know about my nephew's affairs, I inform you
once again!"

"My mother borrowed this money from him. She was in trouble. He helped
her."

"Your mother needs a guardian. I beg your pardon! But I thought she had
had her lesson once before in her life. So my nephew loaned money to
your mother! Where did he get that money?"

"I do not--"

"Hold on! Wait before you say that, Miss Kilgour. I'll not endure
falsehoods from anybody just now. I have been lied to too much lately.
This is a matter of my own nephew. I command you to tell me the truth."

She hesitated a long time, her countenance expressing her agony. "I
haven't any right to betray him, sir."

"He did not get five thousand dollars by any honest means. The
reputation of the family is in jeopardy just now, Miss Kilgour. I want
to protect it for my own sake. He confessed to you, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"I can better understand your sense of obligation now. When a man
commits a crime for a woman she gets some fool notions into her head
about standing by him. I know my nephew's extravagances, Miss Kilgour.
He had to steal to get five thousand dollars for your mother. There is
just one handy place where he could steal. He took that money from the
state treasury. He has told you so. Am I not right?"

"Yes."

Colonel Dodd turned his back on her and looked up at his bouquets.

Perspiration streaked his thick neck. His jowls trembled. She pitied
this man, even in her own tribulation. She had never seen him moved
before.

"How did you get this money, Miss Kilgour?" he asked, after a time, his
voice very low.

"Must I tell you?"

"Certainly. We are going to the bottom of this thing."

"I received a little legacy from my aunt a few years ago--I had put it
away in the bank. I had saved some money from the wages I got here.
My mother--I am sorry to say that she has been vain and extravagant,
sir--she had wasted money on jewels and dress, and now she has sold
everything. We have disposed of all our furniture and have gone to board
in a very cheap place. I have been able to make out the amount of the
debt. Here it is!" She placed it on his desk beside the flabby hand
which lay there.

He did not speak for a long time. "I am sorry for you," he said at last.
"This is a wicked thing. But I know better than to tell you to keep this
mo