my little girl! My real name might come out, and I
wouldn't have her know what I've been for anything."

"She shall not know," Trent said, "I'll promise you'll be perfectly safe
with me."

Monty rose up weakly. His knees were shaking, and he was in a pitiful
state. He cast a sidelong glance at the brandy bottle by his side, and
his hand stole out towards it. But Trent stopped him gently but firmly.

"Not now, Monty," he said, "you've had enough of that!"

The man's hand dropped to his side. He looked into Trent's face, and the
years seemed to fade away into a mist.

"You were always a hard man, Scarlett Trent," he said. "You were always
hard on me!"

"Maybe so," Trent answered, "yet you'd have died in D.T. before now but
for me! I kept you from it as far as I could. I'm going to keep you from
it now!"

Monty turned a woebegone face around the little room.

"I don't know," he said; "I'm comfortable here, and I'm too old, Trent,
to live your life. I'd begin again, Trent, I would indeed, if I were
ten years younger. It's too late now! I couldn't live a day without
something to keep up my strength!"

"He's quite right, Trent," Da Souza put in hastily. "He's too old to
start afresh now. He's comfortable here and well looked after; make him
an allowance, or give him a good lump sum in lieu of all claims. I'll
draw it out; you'll sign it, won't you, Monty? Be reasonable, Trent!
It's the best course for all of us!"

But Trent shook his head. "I have made up my mind," he said. "He must
come with me. Monty, there is the little girl!

"Too late," Monty moaned; "look at me!"

"But if you could leave her a fortune, make her magnificent presents?"

Monty wavered then. His dull eyes shone once more!

"If I could do that," he murmured.

"I pledge my word that you shall," Trent answered. Monty rose up.

"I am ready," he said simply. "Let us start at once."

Da Souza planted himself in front of them.

"You defy me!" he said. "You will not trust him with me or take my
advice. Very well, my friend! Now listen! You want to ruin me! Well,
if I go, the Bekwando Company shall go too, you understand! Ruin for me
shall mean ruin for Mr. Scarlett Trent--ah, ruin and disgrace. It shall
mean imprisonment if I can bring it about, and I have friends! Don't you
know that you are guilty of fraud? You sold what wasn't yours and put
the money in your pocket! You left your partner to rot in a fever swamp,
or to be done to death by th