stless.
What he had read in the paper from home about himself poisoned everything
for him.

He had always tried to be perfectly straight and honorable in all his
business relations. His word had ever been as good as his bond. Now, at
one stroke, he saw his reputation damaged perhaps beyond mending. All over
the United States he had been pictured as a contract-breaker. He could see
the incredulity of his friends turning gradually to contempt. He fancied
he could hear them saying:

"So Joe has fallen for that game, has he? Well, they say that every man
has his price. No doubt Joe's price was high, but they found out what it
was and bought him."

Of course he had denied it, but he knew how people smiled when they read
denials. And months must pass before he could get back to America and try
to hunt out the author or authors of the story.

He tried to hide his mood under a cover of light talk and banter, but the
others felt it and sympathized with him, though all refrained from
mentioning what each of them was thinking.

All through the day his gloom persisted, and when night came and he had
retired to the room that he and Jim occupied together he felt that it
would be impossible for him to sleep.

"There's no use talking," said Jim with a yawn, as he set his cane so that
it rested against the footboard and threw off his coat preparing to
undress, "sight-seeing's the most tiring work there is. I feel more done
up to-night than if I had been pitching in a hard game."

"I'm tired too," agreed Joe, "but I don't feel the least bit like sleep."

Jim was asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow. But Joe
tossed about restlessly for what seemed to him to be hours. The night was
very warm and all the windows were open to get what breath of air might be
stirring.

A broad veranda ran all around the building, not more than two feet below
the windows, and from the ground to the veranda rose a luxuriant tangle of
vines and flowers.

The moon was at the full and its light flooded a part of the room, leaving
the rest in deep shadow.

Joe at last dropped off into a doze from which he woke with a start.

He had heard nothing, but he had an uneasy consciousness that something
was wrong.

He glanced over at Jim who was peacefully sleeping. Then he raised himself
on his elbow and his glance swept the room.

Nothing seemed amiss in the lighted part, but in a darkened corner the
shadow seemed to be heavier than usua