oment to hurry from the room, making his way
through the inky darkness as best he could to the barroom, where he knew
he should find Halloran and the cabby dozing in the big armchairs.

The full realization of his crime had quite sobered him by this time.

The innkeeper had left a dim light in the barroom. By the aid of this he
made his way quickly to his friend's side. A few rapid words whispered
excitedly in Halloran's ear told him the condition of affairs.

"You are right," exclaimed Halloran, springing to his feet. "We must
get out of here without a moment's delay. The cabman must go with us,
taking his horses, even though we have to pay him the price of them."

"I--I--will leave everything to you, Halloran," muttered his companion,
huskily, "your brain is clearer and a thousand times shrewder than
mine."

"Nor must the girl be left here," went on Halloran. "She must not be
found dead in this house."

"Why, what in Heaven's name could we do with her?" returned the other,
sharply. "I tell you she is dying, any one could see that."

"Put her effectually out of the way, and past all human possibility of
any one finding out how she came by her death. I have a desperate plan.
I cannot explain it to you now. All I say is, be guided by my directions
to-night--leave everything to me," said Halloran, with a grim gaze.

"I put myself in your hands, Halloran," was the husky reply.

The cabby was hurriedly awakened. At first he demurred angrily against
the idea of starting off again; but when a roll of bank notes was
pressed into his hands as the price of his complying with their
demand--a sum that would more than cover the price of the horses if he
lost them--he no longer found grounds for complaint, but agreed with
alacrity to do their bidding.

Besides, Halloran knew a little secret of the cabby's past--just how he
came by the money to buy that outfit--and as it was done in a
particularly shady way, the man dared not make an enemy of him.

In less time than it takes to tell it the coach stood at the door again.

It was Halloran--nervy, cool-headed Halloran, whom the other had always
dubbed half man, half fiend--who stole up to the room above, found the
girl lying in the exact spot his companion had described, and, catching
up her cloak, wrapped it about her, bore her noiselessly down the stairs
and out to the coach in waiting.

"Is it all over with her yet?" whispered the other in a strained, husky
voice, showi