e Professor had heard of him.

"Vic keeps that little boy all right. He don't complain none. S'pose you
help me watch um, Profesh." Then as an afterthought, Saxon added: "Young
woman livin' out north of town. Pretty woman. She don't know nothing
'bout that little boy. Now, honest, she don't. Lives all by herself with
a big dog."

Jealousy is an ugly, suspicious beast. Vincent Burgess was no worse than
many other men would have been, because his mind leaped to the meaning
old Saxon's words might carry. And this was the man with Elinor in the
darkness and the storm. Before Burgess could think clearly, Saxon came a
step nearer.

"Shay, where's Vic tonight?"

"Across the river with Miss Wream. They were cut off by the deep water,"
Vincent answered.

A quick change from drunkenness to sober sense leaped into Bond Saxon's
eyes.

"Across the river! Great God!" Then sternly, with a grim set of jaw, he
commanded: "You go home! If you dare to say a word, I'll kill you. If
you try to follow me, he'll kill you. Go home! I 'm going over there, if
I die for it." And the darkness and rain swallowed him as he leaped away
to the westward!

Burgess gazed into the blackness into which Bond Saxon had gone until a
soft hand touched his, and he looked down to see little Bug Buler, clad
in his nightgown, standing barefoot beside him.

"Where's Vic?" Bug demanded.

"I don't know," Burgess answered.

"Take me up, I'se told." Bug stretched up his arms appealingly, and
Burgess, who knew nothing of babies, awkwardly lifted him up.

"Tuddle me tlose like Vic do," and the little one snuggled lovingly in
the Professor's embrace. "Your toat's wet. Is Vic wet, too?"

"Yes, little boy. We are all in trouble tonight." Burgess had to say
something.

"In twouble? Umph--humph!" Bug shut his lips tightly, puffing out his
cheeks, as was his habit. "I was in twouble, and I ist wented to Don
Fonnybone. He's dood for twouble-ness. You go see him. Poor man!" and
the little hand stroked Professor Burgess' feverish cheek.

"If you'll run right back to bed, I'll do it," Burgess declared. "We
can learn even from children sometimes," he thought, as Bug climbed down
obediently and toddled away.

Vincent Burgess went directly to Dr. Lloyd Fenneben, to whom he told the
story of the day's events, including the interview with Bond Saxon.
He did not repeat Bond's words regarding Vic, but only hinted at the
suspicion that there was something questionable