tly, while her lips opened to utter a wild
protest at this desecration. What the document contained she did not
yet know, except that it was evidence that fixed upon the men named
guilt for some past deed in which Weir had suffered and which would
bring them to account. But something more than protest was needed, she
saw in a flash, to deflect the man from his purpose and save the
sheets from the flame.

She shut her lips for an instant to choke the cry, then said with an
assumption of unconcern:

"Go ahead. I didn't want your father to see it, in any case."

The paper had almost reached the candle, but the hand that held it
paused. Sorenson stared at it, and from it to her. At last a malignant
curl of his lips uncovered his teeth.

"Oh, you didn't want him to see it," he sneered. "If that's so, I'll
just save it. He'll be interested in reading what your friends have
prepared to destroy his good name and reputation."

He folded the document and slipped it into his inner coat pocket. Then
he walked towards her. At the look on his face Janet sprang to her
feet.

"I've changed my mind about the marriage matter, just as you did," he
said. "I agree with you now; there won't be any marriage. But I'll
have your arms about my neck just the same."

And he seized her wrist.

"Let me go, let----" The words ceased on her lips.

Her eyes were riveted on the cabin door; she scarcely felt the man's
loathsome touch on her arm. How had the door come unlatched? And was
it only the wind that slowly moved it open?

CHAPTER XVI

WEIR TAKES UP THE HUNT

On leaving the construction camp Steele Weir had whirled away down the
river road for San Mateo with a feeling both of satisfaction and of
enmity--satisfaction at Martinez' success in at last having secured
the evidence ardently desired, as betokened by his words; enmity at
whoever was laying violent hands on the lawyer. Unfortunately when yet
half a mile from town his car suffered one of the common misadventures
of automobiles:--ping-g-g! sang a tire in a shrill dying whine.

Weir did not stop to change and inflate the tube, but pushed ahead on
his mission though at slackened speed. He brought his car to rest
before Doctor Hosmer's house. The windows were lighted, yet at his
knock there was no response; so brushing conventionalities aside he
entered and called Janet's name. Only echoes and a following silence
greeted his call.

Doubtful whether to remain awaiting t