r. But, if this is true,
then God help her--and me too."

He flung himself on the bed. He was too tired to worry further. The
irksome question was shelved--for the moment there was peace, and before
that moment passed Harding was sound asleep.

Before he awakened, Mrs. Eustace visited the bank, received the doctor's
message and went on her way to Taloona.

She came with Gale.

"Has Mr. Harding returned yet?" she asked, before Wallace could speak.
"He was to bring me word whether the doctor wanted me to help to-day."

"He came in about half an hour ago, utterly worn out. I have sent him to
bed for a few hours," Wallace replied. "He left a message for you--old
Mr. Dudgeon is very bad, and the doctor sent word that if you could go
out at once it would be a great help to him."

"Of course I'll go," she exclaimed. "Mr. Gale, you offered to drive me
if I were wanted. Will you go for the buggy while I get some things
together to take with me?"

She turned to Wallace when Gale had left the office.

"I suppose you have no objection to my going upstairs?"

"None whatever," he answered.

"I will get what things I want. The others can be taken away later to
the cottage I am renting. I will give Mr. Gale a list, as he very kindly
offered to see to the removal if I had to go out to Taloona again."

He held the door open while she passed into the residence portion of the
building, and closed it after her. He was not a lady's man, even under
the best of circumstances; with the conviction that Eustace was the
culprit, not only in the bank robbery, but also in the outrage at
Taloona, he wished to have as little to say to her as possible. The
sooner she was out of the place the better he would be pleased.

As he returned to his work, which, at the moment, was a lengthy report
he was preparing for despatch to the head office in condemnation of
Eustace, she went through to the kitchen, where she found Bessie.

"I am leaving the bank to-day, Bessie, and all my things are going away.
I have taken Smart's cottage and am going to live there. Although I
engaged you, if you think you will do better for yourself by staying
here, don't let me prevent you."

"Stay on here, Mrs. Eustace? What, after you've gone? No, ma'am, no! If
you don't want me any longer, there may be someone else in Waroona who
does, but if this is the only place where I can stay, I'm off to
Wyalla," Bessie exclaimed.

"I would not like them to think I took you