don," said Peter mechanically. A moment later he ran into
something again. "I beg your pardon," said Peter, and two well-dressed
girls laughed to see a bareheaded man apologize to a lamp-post. He
walked on once more, but had not gone ten paces when a hand was rested
on his shoulder.

"Now then, my beauty," said a voice. "You want to get a cab, or I shall
have to run you in. Where do you want to go?"

"I beg your pardon," said Peter.

"Come," said the policeman shaking him, "where do you belong? My God!
It's Mr. Stirling. Why, sir. What's the matter?"

"I think I've killed her," said Peter.

"He's awfully screwed," ejaculated the policeman. "And him of all men!
Nobody shall know." He hailed a passing cab, and put Peter into it. Then
he gave Peter's office address, and also got in. He was fined the next
day for being off his beat "without adequate reasons," but he never told
where he had been. When they reached the building, he helped Peter into
the elevator. From there he helped him to his door. He rang the bell,
but no answer came. It was past office-hours, and Jenifer having been
told that Peter would dine up-town, had departed on his own leave of
absence. The policeman had already gone through Peter's pockets to get
money for cabby, and now he repeated the operation, taking possession
of Peter's keys. He opened the door and, putting him into a deep chair
in the study, laid the purse and keys on Peter's desk, writing on a
scrap of paper with much difficulty: "mr. stirling $2.50 I took to pay
the carriage. John Motty policeman 22 precinct," he laid it beside the
keys and purse. Then he went back to his beat.

And what was Peter doing all this time? Just what he now did. He tried
to think, though each eye felt as if a red hot needle was burning in it.
Presently he rose, and began to pace the floor, but he kept stumbling
over the desk and chairs. As he stumbled he thought, sometimes to
himself, sometimes aloud: "If I could only think! I can't see. What was
it Dr. Pilcere said about her eyes? Or was it my eyes? Did he give me
some medicine? I can't remember. And it wouldn't help her. Why can't I
think? What is this pain in her head and eyes? Why does everything look
so dark, except when those pains go through her head? They feel like
flashes of lightning, and then I can see. Why can't I think? Her eyes
get in the way. He gave me something to put on them. But I can't give it
to her. She told me to go away. To stop thi