falsehood, Mr. Prale. You know I wrote
the notes, do you? Then you know everything else. So you are going to
fight."

"I fail to understand all this."

"Another falsehood!" she cried. "I have asked you to leave New York
and----"

"And I fail to see why I should."

"Then remain--and receive the retribution!" she said. "You will deserve
all you get, Sidney Prale! When I think of what you have done----"

She ceased speaking, and turned to glance through the window.

"You were kind enough to say that you believed me innocent of the murder
charge----"

"I do. I hate to have you facing a thing like that when you are
innocent. But this other thing is----"

"Can't you explain? I give you my word of honor that I do not understand
this."

"Your word of honor!" she sneered, facing him again. "You speak of
honor--you? That is the best jest of all!"

Sidney Prale's face flushed.

"I had hoped that I was a man of honor," he said. "I always have tried
to be honorable in my dealings with men and women, all my life. Please
understand that, Miss Gilbert."

"If you have tried, you have failed miserably. Why do you persist in
telling falsehoods, Mr. Prale. Do you think that I am a weak, silly
woman ready to be hoodwinked by lies?"

"But I assure you----"

"I do not care for any of your assurances," she interrupted. "I wish it
understood that we are strangers hereafter. You are going to fight, are
you? Fight, Sidney Prale--and lose! What I said was correct--you cannot
dodge retribution. It will take more than a million dollars to be able
to do that."

"My dear young lady----"

"I am done, Mr. Prale. I have said all that I intend saying to you."

"Then it is my turn to talk!" Prale said. "This thing is getting to be
so serious that I demand an explanation. Why should you, and others, be
so eager to run me out of New York?"

"Others?"

"Yes--particularly one man we both know."

"His name, please?"

"Why ask, Miss Gilbert?"

"Very well."

"Why do you want me to run away?"

"I did not know that others were trying to get you to leave," she said.
"I suggested it because--well, because I am a woman, I suppose. You
deserve the worst that can happen to you. But a woman, has a kind
thought now and then. I hate to see any man ground down and down, no
matter how much he deserves it--and that is what is to happen to you if
you do not go away. If you leave, your enemies will not use such harsh
measures, perhaps. But wh