m in
the face? I'm willing to go as far in this matter as the next, but you
got to do your part and pay the price, or I'll throw you down so hard
you'll never get over the jar!" His heavy jaws protruded. "Now, I've a
notion I want to know your wife. I like her style. I guess you can trust
her with me--you ain't afraid of that, are you?"

"Take your hands off me!" cried Langham, struggling fiercely.

He tore at the gambler's wrists, but Gilmore only laughed his
tantalizing laugh.

"Oh, come, Marsh, let's get back to the main point. If North's indicted
and your wife's summoned as a witness, she's got to chip in with us,
she's got to deny that she was in his room that day--you got to see to
that, I can't do everything--"

"On your word--"

"Well, you needn't quote me to her--it wouldn't help my standing with
her--but ask her where she was between half past five and six the day of
the murder; and mind this, you must make her understand she's got to
keep still no matter what happens! Put aside the notion that North won't
summon her; wait until he is really in danger and then see how quick he
squeals!"

"She may have gone to his rooms," said Langham chokingly, "but that
doesn't prove anything wrong--"

"Oh, come, Marsh, you ain't fool enough to feel that way about it--"

"Let me up, Gilmore!"

"No, I won't; I'm trying to make you see things straight for your own
good. What's the matter, anyhow; don't you and your wife get on?"

Langham's face was purple with rage and shame, while his eyes burned
with a murderous hate. Rude hands had uncovered his hidden sore; yet
ruder speech was making mock of the disgraceful secret. It was of his
wife that this coarse bully was speaking! That what he said was probably
true--Evelyn herself had admitted much--did not in the least ease the
blow that had crushed his pride and self-respect. He lay back in his
chair, limp and panting under Gilmore's strong hands. Where was his own
strength of heart and arm that he should be left powerless in this
moment of unspeakable degradation?

"It behooves you to do something more than soak up whisky," said the
gambler. "You must find out what took your wife to North's rooms, and
you must make her keep quiet no matter what happens. If you go about it
right it ought to be easy, for they had some sort of a row and he's
mixed up with the Herbert girl; you got that to go on. Now, the question
is, is she mad enough to see him go to the penitentiary