n, but there's some little difference in value
between a pin and a thirty thousand dollar coat. They say every man's
got his price."

"It's a lie!" cried the girl, stamping her foot. "But even if it were
true, his price would be so big that there isn't money enough in this
world to even tempt him! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Think
what people will say!"

"I don't care what they say. He's got that coat, an' I'm right here to
see that he gets just what's comin' to him."

"Well, what people will say won't hurt Oskar!" cried the girl.
"They'll all know he didn't steal your coat! They'll say you're a
fool! That's what they'll say--and they'll be right, too! It won't
take him long to prove his innocence, and then what will people think
of you?"

"He ain't got a show to prove his innocence," retorted McNabb. "Your
own testimony will convict him. Didn't ye tell me right here in this
room within the hour that the coat ye brought in was the one ye wore
from the store, an' the one ye wore to the theatre?"

"And I thought it was," flared the girl. "But if Oskar says it wasn't
then it wasn't. And let me tell you this--if you're depending on my
testimony to convict him, you might as well have him turned loose right
this minute! Because I won't say a word at their old trial. They can
put me in jail, too, but they can't make me talk. The whole thing is
an outrage, and I'm going right straight down to the jail and tell them
to let him out this minute----"

"He's out all right," retorted McNabb. "He knocked Hicks down and
escaped on the way to jail."

"I'm glad of it! I hope he broke that nasty old Hicks's head! And if
they catch Oskar you had better see that they let him go at
once--unless you want to see your own daughter married to a jailbird!"

XII

It was nine o'clock that evening when, growling and grumbling, Hicks
himself moved heavily down the short corridor of the jail, and unlocked
the door of the cell that held Oskar Hedin. "Come on out!" he
commanded.

Hedin stepped in the corridor, and looked inquiringly into the
officer's face. "What's up?" he asked.

"Bailed out," growled Hicks.

"Bailed out! Why, who----?"

"I don't know, an' don't give a damn. Someone that's got more money
than brains. I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw a bull by
the tail, an' you needn't think I've forgot the poke in the jaw you
give me. I'll git you yet."

Hedin paused upon the steps