in
and turned slowly toward her bedroom.

Her fingers were upon the lamp to turn down the light, when three
short peremptory raps at the back door caused her to start nervously.
She took up the lamp and tiptoed into the kitchen.

"Who's there?" she called.

The rapping was repeated; this time with a much greater insistence.

"Quick,--quick! For God's sake let me in!" came a hoarse, muffled
voice which sounded strangely tired.

The girl set the lamp on the kitchen table and went cautiously forward
to the door.

"Who's there?" she repeated, her hand on the door fastenings.

"Let me in!" came the voice in desperation. "If you have a heart,
please open."

"I cannot until I know who you are. I am a girl. I am alone."

A groan escaped the man on the outside, and the anguish of it struck
into the bosom of Eileen Pederstone. Once more the voice came
pleadingly:--

"And I am a man! I am hunted,--I need help."

The girl shot back the bolt, threw wide the door and stood back with
bated breath.

A masculine figure, panting and dishevelled, staggered in, blinking in
the lamplight.

Eileen slowly pushed the door shut, keeping her frightened eyes upon
the incomer who tottered weakly to the wall and leaned against it for
support.

Dirty from head to heel, he was dressed only in a pair of ragged
trousers and a torn, mud-stained shirt. His stockingless feet were
partly hidden in a pair of broken boots. Several days' growth of beard
made it hard to guess him young or old. But his blue eyes, despite
their tired and bloodshot appearance, betrayed, as they gazed in
wonder at the girl, many characteristics of a youthfulness not yet
really past.

While the two stood thus, the far-away sound of voices floated up the
hill from below.

The fugitive's eyes roved like those of a hunted animal. He braced
himself as if ashamed of his momentary show of fear. He tried hard to
smile, but the smile was a dismal failure.

"Sorry," he panted, "but--but----" His voice sounded harsh and
hoarse from exposure. "Is there anywhere--any place where you
could hide me till they pass. They were only--only a little behind me.
Guess--I--shouldn't--shouldn't have got you mixed up in this. They
are coming this way. They want to take me back--but I can't--I
won't go back there. Ah!"

He clung with his fingers against the wall to prevent him from
collapsing.

In a moment, anxious and all alert, Eileen searched the kitchen
for a place of safe h