This woman is doing a very foolish and
useless thing in resisting me, for the law can take hold of her, of
course."

The crowd wavered and looked uncertainly at Mrs. Carson and at Betty
cowering horrified behind her, and Hutton saw his advantage:

"Men," he went on, "there is one of your own townsmen who knows me and
can vouch for me. A Mr. Gage. Abijah Gage. If you will just look him
up--he was down at the station a few minutes ago. He knows that all I am
saying is true!"

A low sound like a rumble went over the little audience and they seemed
to bunch together and look at one another while some kind of an
understanding traveled from eye to eye. An articulate syllable, "Bi!"
breathed in astonishment, and then again "Bi!" in contempt. Public
opinion, like a panther crouching, was forming itself ready to spring,
when suddenly a new presence was felt in the room. Three strangers had
appeared and somehow quietly gotten into the doorway. Behind them,
stretching his neck and unable to be cautious any longer, appeared Bi's
slouching form. Crouching Public Opinion caught sight of him and showed
its teeth, but was diverted by the strangers.

Then suddenly, from the corner behind Ma, slipped Betty with
outstretched hands, like a lost thing flying to its refuge, straight to
the side of the handsome young stranger.

He put out his hands and drew her to his side with a protecting motion,
and she whispered:

"Tell, them, please; oh, make them understand."

Then Reyburn, with her hand still protectingly in his, spoke:

"What that man has just said is a lie!"

Hutton looked up, went deadly white and reeled as he saw the two elderly
men.

The crowd drew a united breath and stood straighter, looking relieved.
Bi blanched, but did not budge. Whatever happened he was in with both
crowds. Reyburn continued:

"I carry papers in my pocket which give authority to arrest him. If the
sheriff is present will he please take charge of him. His name is
Herbert Hutton, and he is charged with trying to make this lady marry
him under false pretenses in order to get control of her property. She
is not his wife, for she escaped before the ceremony was performed. I
know, for I was present. These two gentlemen with me are the trustees of
her estate."

Estate!

The neighbors looked at Betty respectfully.

Bi dropped his jaw perceptibly and tried to figure out how that would
affect him. The sheriff stepped forward to magnify his office, a