irst
time in my memory, Graham Brenchfield broke down and cried like a
baby. Little wonder,--for it was his first great offence against
society and law.

"I led him to a chair and sat quietly beside him until the worst of
his wildness seemed to be over.

"'Graham,--you must pull yourself together,' I said. 'Tell me what it
is you have done. Maybe it is not so bad. Maybe we can fix it up.'

"'Phil, I got tired waiting for you and went out three-quarters of an
hour ago,' he replied. 'I went over the fields to the village. I
didn't mean any wrong then. I had no thought of it. I went the back
way toward the bank. The back door was open and I looked in. The
banker was figuring. There was money--stacks of it. The sight of the
damned stuff made me crazy. I had little hope of you getting yours. It
seemed an easy way. Something gripped me and I saw nothing after that
but the money. There was no one about. I crept in, and under that
counter that lifts up. He never saw or heard me. I picked up
something--a poker, a ruler maybe. God only knows what it was! I hit
him over the head with it. It didn't drop him. I had to hit him again
and again. Then blood spurted. He fell on the floor. I grabbed as much
money as I thought I needed and I came away hoping to get out from
here before you got back. I was just writing to you now to tell you
what I had done. I put it in the old cipher we made up together at
school. I knew you'd fathom it and understand. It is on the table
there.

"'Now you've come back,' he continued. 'They'll be after me. What am I
to do, Phil? It'll break the dad's and mother's hearts if the police
get me for this. Honest, Phil!--I didn't mean to. I can't think right.
You tell me what to do. You fix it up and get me away from here.'

"He was on the point of breaking down again, Jim, when I brought him
up with a jerk.

"'I can help any man but a murderer,' I said. 'You didn't kill
Maguire?'

"'No, no! I swear it,' he answered. 'The knocks I gave him could not
kill him.'

"'Well, if he dies, Graham, I'll have to tell. If he doesn't, you can
bank on me. Your folks have been too good to me for me to forget and
we've been too good friends for me to give you away. Does anybody
know you are in Carnaby?' I asked further.

"'Not a soul,' he said.

"'Has anyone seen you here?'

"'Not that I know of!'

"'Quick then,' I cried. 'Take this money Angus Macdonald sent. It's
ours. There are five hundred dollars. That's a