e's funny."

"No!" commanded Vera. Her voice rang with the distress. "She cannot do
that!" She turned to Miss Coates. "We haven't hurt you," she pleaded;
"we haven't taken your money. I promise you," she cried, "we will never
see Mr. Hallowell again. I beg of you--"

Vance indignantly caught her by the arm and drew her back. "You don't
beg nothing of her!" he cried.

"I do," Vera answered wildly. She caught Vance's hand in both of hers.
"I have a chance, Paul," she entreated, "don't force me through it
again. I can't stand the shame of it again." Once more she appealed to
the visitor. "Don't!" she begged. "Don't shame me."

But the eyes of the older girl, blind to everything save what, as she
saw it, was her duty, showed no consideration.

Vera's hands, trembling on his arm, drove Vance to deeper anger. He
turned savagely upon Miss Coates.

"You haven't lost anything yet, have you?" he demanded. "She hasn't hurt
you, has she? If it's revenge you want," he cried insolently, "why don't
you throw vitriol on the girl?"

"Revenge!" exclaimed Miss Coates indignantly. "It is my duty. My public
duty. I'm not alone in this; I am acting with the District Attorney.
It is our duty." She turned suddenly and called, "Mr. Winthrop, Mr.
Winthrop!"

For the first time Vera saw, under the gas jet, at the farther end of
the hall, the figures of Mannie and Winthrop.

"No, no!" she protested, "I beg of you," she cried hysterically. "I've
got a chance. If you print this thing tomorrow, I'll never have a chance
again. Don't take it away from me." Impulsively her arms reached out in
an eager final appeal. "I'm down," she said simply, "give me a chance to
get up."

When Miss Coates came to give battle to the Vances, she foresaw the
interview might be unpleasant. It was proving even more unpleasant than
she had expected, but her duty seemed none the less obvious.

"You should have thought of that," she said, "before you were found
out."

For an instant Vera stood motionless, staring, unconsciously holding the
attitude of appeal. But when, by these last words, she recognized that
her humiliation could go no further, with an inarticulate exclamation
she turned away.

"The public has the right to know," declared Miss Coates, "the sort of
people you are. I have the record of each of you--"

From the hall Winthrop had entered quickly, but, disregarding him, Vance
broke in upon the speaker, savagely, defiantly.

"Print em, then!" h