innocent."

"Of course, of course!" cried the general hastily, for these were points
he did not wish to discuss.

"It's a serious matter when you consider the possibility of an
indictment," said North soberly enough.

"That's true; yet we mustn't count the cost now, or at any future time.
But I promised Elizabeth I'd come back at once. What shall I say to her,
North?"

"Tell her that her letter has changed the whole aspect of things for me.
You must try to make her feel the fresh hope she has given me," John
replied, extending his hand.

"Conklin!" called the general. He took North's hand. "Good night; I'm
infinitely sorry to leave you here, North, but I suppose it can't be
helped--"

The sheriff entered the room while he was yet speaking.

"Finished your chat, General?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you, Conklin. Good night. Good night, North," and
Elizabeth's father hurried from the room.

For a moment North stood silent, staring absently at the door that had
just closed on the general's burly figure. He still held Elizabeth's
letter in his hand. In fancy he was seeing her as she had bent above it,
her face tender, compassionate; and then there rose the vision of that
crowded room with its palpable atmosphere, its score of curious faces
all turned toward him in eager expectation. In the midst of these
unworthy surroundings, her face, beautiful and high bred, eluded him;
the likeness, even as he saw it, was lost, nor could he call it back.

Slowly but certainly that day's experience was fixing itself unalterably
in his memory. He caught the pungent reek from the wood-stove, and
mingling with it the odor of strong cheap tobacco filled his nostrils
again; he was left with the very dregs of sordid shameful things.

The sheriff touched him on the arm.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE GAMBLER'S THEORY

Gilmore, leaving his apartment, paused to light a cigar, then sauntered
down the steps and into the street. As he did so he saw Marshall Langham
come from the post-office, half a block distant, and hurry across the
Square. Gilmore strode after him.

"Oh, say, Marsh, I want to see you!" he called when he had sufficiently
reduced the distance that separated him from his friend.

Instantly Langham paused, turning a not too friendly face toward the
gambler.

"You want to see me?" he asked.

"Didn't I say so?" demanded Gilmore, as he gained a place at his side.
"Where are you going, to the office?"

"Yes, I have