obably figured he could tell some story on the stand that would clear
her of the scandal, provided Thompson gathered up these little souvenirs
of her indiscretion."

"Jim, I'm proud of you," Nora said. "But will Dr. Randall thank you for
interfering?"

"I think so, when he's got over this first mistaken idea of what he owes
her for protecting his honor and her own even to the point of murder.
He'll soon be clear-headed enough to weigh both sides. He'll appreciate
then that there isn't much disgrace about such a crime for her,
particularly since it's the strongest proof the world could have that
Thompson's opinion is right."

He turned to the butler.

"Surely, Thompson, there isn't as much evidence as all that. Come. We
ought to get back to town."

As they went down the stairs Garth wondered that his success borrowed
its chief value from its effect on Nora. As large as the satisfaction of
clearing an innocent and harassed man, loomed the fact that he had,
indeed, provoked her praise.

At the turn their hands met in the darkness. He rejoiced that the warmth
of her fingers lingered momentarily in his.

CHAPTER VII

NORA FEARS FOR GARTH

From the moment of his solution of the Elmford affair Garth was
recognized at headquarters as the man for the big jobs--the city's most
serviceable detective. For one who accepted his success so modestly it
was difficult to breed jealous enemies. There was, to be sure, some
speculation as to how long such a man would chain his abilities by the
modest pay of the department, and a wish here and there that he would
find it convenient to free himself for broader fields in the near
future.

Garth realized that it was the inspector's attitude that had determined
his new standing. Under other circumstances things might have progressed
more slowly. The tie formed the night of the arrest of Slim and George
was still strong.

Garth arranged, when he went to bear the news of his discovery to Dr.
Randall in the Tombs, to catch a glimpse of the two. Their greeting
sufficiently defined the threat he had always known existed. In their
faces he read an intention from which he shrank, more for Nora's sake
than for his own. He didn't stay to argue. He walked on to Randall's
cell and told the stricken man that in a few minutes he would be free.

Garth had been a good prophet. Randall's first resentment gave way to a
gratitude, expressed with difficulty but genuine.

"It--it was excep