k of this matter."

Louisa's great black eyes seemed to blaze like living fires. She gave
Jim a long glance.

"Just you tell me one thing," she said, almost in a whisper.

"What is that?" he asked, surprised at her change of tone.

"Are you going to marry Alison Reed, Jim Hardy?"

"You have no right to ask me the question," he replied, "but as you
have, I will for once answer you frankly. If I don't marry Alison
Reed, no other girl shall be my wife."

"Is that a vow?" she asked.

"You can take it as such, if you like," he said.

"I wouldn't make it," she replied. "No man can tell how he will
change."

"I'll never change," he replied. "I think I'll say 'good-night' now."

"Oh, dear! you aint going? Well, you shan't go until I have had my
say. I just wanted to know the truth; now I know it. Look here, Jim;
I am your friend, and I am Alison Reed's friend. There is nothing I
wouldn't do for either of you. Alison must be cleared of the shameful
thing she was accused of in the shop to-day."

"She will be cleared," said Jim; "that is my business. Good-night,
Louisa; I must go home."

"One minute first. I'll help you to clear Miss Reed. Will you sit
next me at dinner to-morrow?"

"That is as you like," replied Jim.

"Please do," she added; "I'll have made a plan by then. Yes, Alison
must be cleared. It seems to me that it is more a woman's work than a
man's."

"No, it is my work," said Jim. "But I'll sit next to you with
pleasure; it is nothing to me one way or other."

Louisa's eyes drooped; an angry color flooded her face.

Jim held out his hand; she gave hers: the next minute the two young men
were again in the street.

"Well," said Sampson, "we have done good business, have we not?"

"I can't see it," replied Jim. "Louisa is innocent. I don't like her,
but she has had no more to do with that affair than I have had; so
there."

"Louisa Clay is guilty," replied Sampson. "I may not be able to prove
it either to-day or to-morrow, but I will prove it before long. You
leave this matter in my hands, Jim."

"I hate the whole thing," said Jim; "it seems awfully hard to drag
another girl into it."

"Well, I don't believe in your sort of love," sneered Sampson; "but
mark my words: Louisa is the one what took that money. I have got a
footing in the house now, and I can work the thing and prove that I am
right in my own way."

"I don't believe a word of it," said Jim. "Don't drag me in