is face was blanched.

"Yer kin say yer prayers ef yer want ter," said Henry.

"Guess they wouldn't be much good," Gill remarked with a wan smile.

"Then tie his arms, Tom."

* * * * *

Near the bridge Lizzi stopped suddenly, her impetuous rush to save
Gill's life checked by the thought to which she gave utterance in a
whisper:

"I know my shame."

She had not known it when she ran to rescue him from death in the store
fire; she had not learned it when she faced unflinchingly the scorn of
the women; and she was ignorant of it when she dashed into the bar-room
to stop the fight her brothers made in defence of her good name: but now
it was upon her with crushing weight, and she stood helpless in sight of
the rope that was to strangle Gill.

If she would save him it behooved her to act quickly, for she could see
a man pinioning his arms. Moved with great pity for her betrayer, whose
white face she could see plainly, she summoned strength to enter the
bridge.

As she stepped on the planks she was conscious of a change in the manner
of the crowd, and seeing Squire Parsons force his way to Gill's side,
paused.

"Henry Myers!" called the squire.

"Here," answered Henry from the cross-piece.

"I have a warrant for the arrest of John Gillfillan issued to you as
constable, and you must take him in charge."

Law had entered the crowd, and its presence was immediately recognized
by submission. Henry dropped to the bridge-floor and muttered a curse as
he addressed the squire:

"Yer hev spoiled a good job; ef yer'd b'en a minit later the devil'd hed
Gill, sure."

Lizzi, seeing Gill would not be injured, turned and fled through the
darkness to the refuge of her home.

She entered it with bowed head, her queenliness having gone from her
forever.

The child was crying petulantly. Blind Benner, lying on the floor,
supported his head with one hand and feebly rocked the cradle with the
other.

A pool of blood lay on the white quilt that covered the infant, and
another was forming on the floor under the cradle.

The child wailed as the cradle rocked slowly and unevenly.

The blood flowed noiselessly from Blind Benner's lips. He knew Lizzi had
come back, but he would not speak until she did. He was afraid to know
what had happened in the bridge, and would die in ignorance, obeying her
last command to him.

With eyes cast down she moved slowly towards the cradle. The blood on
the qu