nes about
expressing his hatred of Simon Varr. I was curious to know why he was
so bitter, and I had a sneaking notion that it might have something to
do with the way Leslie had suddenly deserted Hambleton and abandoned my
sister to his only admitted rival. It did! I asked him to tell me the
story back of it and he willingly complied.

"It appears that Simon clerked for a time in a local bank of which
Leslie's father was the president, and while there had discovered old
Mr. Sherwood guilty of serious defalcations. Sherwood was too deeply
involved to extricate himself short of stupendous good luck and years
of effort, so Simon cunningly stored away his knowledge against a day
when it might come in useful. Blackmail.

"The occasion arrived quickly. Lucy was obviously attached to Leslie,
if not secretly engaged to him. Simon went to Leslie and told him he
must withdraw with no word of explanation to Lucy under penalty of
having his father exposed as a thief! Leslie was knocked galley-west,
of course. He went to his father, found that Simon had told the truth,
had a row with the old gentleman and departed forthwith, stricken to
his soul.

"I don't criticize Leslie for acting that way. He was obeying the
queer standards of behavior we have set up in the West. Actually, it
never once occurred to him that to kill a blackmailer of that type
rather than permit him to ruin a woman's life might be a very righteous
deed! I see you wince, Mr. Creighton! Please remember I have lived in
the East long enough to imbibe some of its philosophy. I don't
consider one human life so much more important than the happiness of
many other people!

"Simon's death warrant was nearly signed that night, though he was to
have one more chance. I left Leslie and came home, and I won't even
try to describe my feelings when I realized how that monster had used
his power to sneak into this house and destroy Lucy's happiness!

"The dagger on the table caught my eye and I remembered its
inscription. 'I Bring Peace'. Suggestive--very suggestive; I thought
of the peace it would bring to a number of persons if any one had the
courage to--to play Destiny. I thought of Leslie's expression when he
told me he still loved Lucy devotedly, and of hers when she heard the
news of his return. There were two more people who would find
happiness if Simon were removed.

"I took the dagger, but of course that was dangerous by itself, so I
slipped i