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‘"Nothing.‘" George spoke shortly. "‘The fish struck in this morning, but our trap is corked." He wrenched off his rubber boots and filung them sayâ€" agely under a bench. "What luck with the boats?‘ "‘Not much. Marsh‘s men are trying to surround our gill netters, and we ain‘t got enough boats to protect ourâ€" selves."" He looked up meaningly from under his heavy brows and inquired, "How much longer are we going to stand for this?" "What do you mean? I‘ve got men out hunting for new hands." "You know what I mean,‘""‘ the glant hbad not George Balt‘s heavy step sounded outside. A moment later the big fellow entered. "What did you find at the traps?‘ asked Emerson eagerly. ‘"Now, sgir, I‘m an awful poor detecâ€" tive," confessed "Fingerless" Fraser. "I‘ve often noticed that about myself. If I was the kind that goes snooping around into other people‘s business, listening to all the gossip I‘m told, I‘d make a good witness. But I ain‘t. No, sir!l I‘m a rotten witness." Despite this indirect rebuke, Boyd might have continued his questioning ‘WE CAN GET HTM TONIGHT IF YOU SAY 8o." ~ "Did you know Cherry before you came to Kalvik?" Boyd asked, searchâ€" Ing his companion‘s face with a look ‘the man could not evade. "Only casual." "Where?" __"Nomeâ€"the year of the big rush." "During the Wining troubles, eh?" "Sure." "What was she doing?"‘ _ "Minding her business. She‘s good at that." Fraser‘s eyes had become green and fishy, as usual. "What do you know about her?" "Well, I know that a lot of fellows would ‘go through‘ for her at the drop of a hat. She could have most anyâ€" thing they‘ve got, I guess. Most any of them miners at Nome would give his right eye or his only child, or any little thing like that, if she asked it." "What else?" f "Well, she was always considered a right good looking party"â€" ‘"Yes, yes; of course. But what do you know about the girl herself? Who is she? What is her history ?" _ _"Get out!" Boyd ordered, in such a tone that the speaker obeyed with ludiâ€" crous haste. "Why not? You won‘t listen to my advice. You‘re playing with other peoâ€" ple‘s money, and it doesn‘t matter to you whether you win or lose. If this enterprise fails I suppose you can proâ€" mote another,." "You‘ve got a swell chance to make a turn in Kalvik," said Fraser. "Why don‘t you take it to Marsh? t "Then TH sell wherever I can. I‘ve been stung, and I want my money. Only, remember, I offered the stock to you first." "I will!" declared Alton,. & "You wouldn‘t do a trick like that? Emerson questioned quickly. ._"You know that I can‘t buy your stock." "see here, Boyd, you‘re to blame for this trouble, and now you either get us out of it or buy my stock." "Well, judge for yourself." Clyde turned again to Emerson. "Who is she? Where did she come from? What is she doing here alone? Answer that. Now, she‘s interested in this deal just as much as any of us, and if you don‘t ask her to take a hand I‘m going to put it up to her myself." **You‘ll do nothing of the sort!" Boyd cried savagely. Clyde rose hastily, and his voice was shaking with excitement as he stamâ€" mered;: "Oh, she‘s good enough,‘"‘ said Clyde. "They‘re all good, but not perhaps in the way :you mean."‘ "How do you know?‘ "I don‘t know, but Fraser does. He‘s known her for years. Haven‘t you, Fraser?" But the adventurer‘s face was like wood as they turned toward him. "I don‘t know nothing," replied "Fingerless‘"‘ Fraser, with an admiraâ€" ble show of ignorance. CHAPTER XVL [ @gr» JOYD broke out roughly: "I tell 3 you, I‘ve heard enough of that [ talk, Alton. Anybody but an | idiot would know that Cherry is far too good for what you suggest. And when you insult ber you insult me." 7 geke fteoykegeo se jsseostoseteotetkeq SILVER HORDE Bv REX BEACH, IThe Boyd tore a leaf from his notebook and wrote a few words on it, telling the men to present it at the office. As Constantine was about to leave he called to him: "Wait! I want to talk with you." The breed halted. "How long have you known Mr. Marsh ? "Me know him long time." "Do you like him? A fiicker ran over the fellow‘s copâ€" pery face as he replied: "Yes. Him good man." "You used to work for him, did you not?‘ "No! They got no moneyâ€"they got no grub. They say little baby is honâ€" gry, and they like money now. So soon they buy grub, they work some more." "Very well. Here‘s an order on the bookkeeper." "Can‘t they wait until the end of the week?‘ Emerson inquired. On the third day after Boyd‘s delivâ€" erance Constantine sought him out in company with several of the native fishermen, translating their demand to be paid for the fish they had caught. Up at the trust‘s headquarters Willis Marsh was in a fine fury. As far as possible his subordinates avoided him. While the daily output was disapâ€" pearing, Emerson drew consolation from the prospect that his pack would be large enough at least to avert utter ruin. It seemed to Boyd that he had never felt such elation as during the days that followed. He trod upon air; his head was in the clouds. He joked with his men, inspiring them with his own good humor and untiring energy. He was never idle save during the odd hours that he snatched for sleep. That night the floors of the fish dock groaned beneath a weight of silver sided salmon piled waist high to a tall man. All through the cool, dim lit hours the ranks of Chinese butchers hacked and slit and slashed with swift, sure, tireless strokes, while the great building echoed hollowly to the clank of machines and the hissing sighs of the soldering furnaces. Big George, when he had fully grasped the situation, became the boss fisherman on the instant. Before the others had reached the cookhouse he was busied in laying out his crews and distributing his gear. The impor ible had happened; victory was in sight; the fish were running. He cared to know no more. "To be sure, but I was good to them when they were Bungry last winter, and I prevailed uponrn them to come. They arer‘t very® good fishermen. They‘re awful lazy and they won‘t work half as hbhard as white men, but it‘s the best I cou!d do." She laughed gladly, more than repaid by the look in her companion‘s face. "Now get me some lunch. I‘m fairly starved." "Why did you quit?‘ l‘Yes.” ‘"Don‘t thank me!" Cherry exâ€" claimed. "It was more Constantine‘s work than mine." "But I don‘t understand. These are Marsh‘s men." "Cherry, you‘re a treasure!" The memory of his desperate resolution of a moment before swept over him sudâ€" denly and his voice trembled with a great thankfulness. "Fingerless" Fraser slapped himself resoundingly upon the thigh and exâ€" ploded profanely. Boyd seized the girl‘s hands in his and wrung them. "I‘ve got fifty men, the best on the river. I tried to get more, butâ€"there aren‘t any more." "That‘s what they‘re here for," said the girl. After her swarmed a crowd of slant eyed, copper hbhued Aleuts. Those in the kyaks astern cast off and paddled toward the beach. "Injuns!" wildly shouted the giant, and without stopping to stamp his feet into his boots he rushed out barefoot after Boyd and Fraser. Together the three men reached the dock in time to bhelp Cherry up the ladder. "What does this mean?‘ Boyd asked her breathlessly. "Will these fellows work ?‘ Emerson was upon the point of turnâ€" ing when his eyes fell upon a picture that made him start, then gaze more intently. Out upon the placid waters, abreast of the plant, the launch in which Cherry had departed was apâ€" proaching, and it was loaded down with men. Not only were they crowdâ€" ed upon the craft itself, but trailing behind it like the tail of a kite was a long line of canoes, and these also were peoplied. "Look yonder!" cried Boyd. "What?‘ "‘Cherry has gotâ€"a crew!‘ His voice broke, and he bolited toward the door as Big George leaped to the window. Moreover, Mildred Wayland was soon to arriveâ€"the yacht was expected dailyâ€"and she would find him a failâ€" ure. What was worse, she would find that Marsh had vanquished him. She would turn elsewhereâ€"perhaps to the very man who had contrived his unâ€" doing. At thought of this a sort of desperation seemed to master him; he began to mutter aloud. "What did you say?" queried Balt. "I said that you are right. The time is close at hand for some sort of a reckoning," answered Boyd in a harsh, strained voice. “GOOd!” Boyd faced the window slowly, while the others followed him with anxious eyes. Inside the room a deathlike siâ€" lence settled. "He‘s got us right enough, and it‘s bound to come to a killing some day, so the sooner the better," the fisher. man ran on. | ‘"We can get him tonight if you say so. Are you in on it? Emerson shot a quick glance at Fraâ€" ser, who. was staring fixedly at Big George. $ cumbled, his red eyes flaming. "You and I can get Willis Marsh." No biten ‘"‘What are you afraid of?"‘ Boyd «wked, but she merely stared at him with eyes as black and round as oxâ€" heart cherries, then renewed her enâ€" "‘No, no! I no stop here alone. I go ‘long too." She cast a glance over her shoulder. "Yes." Chakawana nodded her pretâ€" ty head vigorously. "Where you go?"‘ she asked her mis. tress. f j "I am going to the Indian village. You stay here." "But, Chakawana, what is the matâ€" ter? Are you afraid ?" "Yes." Chakawana nodded hor nraot. He found the girl ready to accomâ€" pany him, and they were about to emâ€" bark when Chakawana came running from the house as if in sudden fright. Balt had returned from the banks earlier in the morning with news of a struggle between his white crew and Marsh‘s men. George‘s boats had been surrounded during the night, nets had been cut and several encounters had occurred, resulting in serious injury to his men. The giant, in no amiable mood, hadreturned for reâ€"enforcements, stating that the situation was becomâ€" ing more serious every hour. Hearing of the desertion of the natives, he burst into profanity, then armed himâ€" self and returned to the banks, while Boyd, now thoroughly alarmed, took a launch and sped up the river to Cherâ€" ry‘s house in the hope that she could prevail upon her own recruits to reâ€" turn. But his amusement at the episode gave way to uneasiness on the followâ€" ing morning when the Aleuts failed to report for work, and by noon his anxâ€" iety resolved itself into strong susâ€" picion. He marched the natives in a body to the storehouse, where he saw to it that they received what provisions they needed and assisted them in loading their canoes. * "If the company store won‘t take the money I‘ll sell you whatever you need from the commissary. We are not goâ€" ing to have any trouble over a little thing like this." ing: "We want money like this." Boyd took the piece and examined it, whereupon a light broke upon him. The coin was stamped with the initials of one of the old fishing companies, and he instantly recognized a ruse practiced in the north during the days of the first trading concerns. It had been the custom of these companies to pay their Indians in coins bearing their own impress and to refuse all other specie at their posts, thus comâ€" pelling the natives to trade at comâ€" pany stores. Seeing that his words carried no conviction, Emerson gave up at last, saying: It was evident that even Constanâ€" tine was vaguely distrustful. f It was considerably later in the day when Boyd discovered the Indians to whom he had given the note talking excitedly on the dock. Seeing Constanâ€" tine in argument with them, he apâ€" proached to demand an explanation, whereupon the quarter breed held out a silver dollar in his palm with the words: : "These men say this money no good." _*"What do you mean?" "It no good. No can buy grub at company store." He eyed him shrewdly for a moment, then handed the blade back with a smile. Constantine slipped it into its place and strode away without a word. forth suddenly and plucked the felâ€" low‘s sheath knife from its scabbard. With a startled cry, Constantine whirlâ€" ed, his face convulsed, his nostrils dilated like those of a frightened horse. But Emerson merely fingered the Inâ€" dian‘s weapon carelessly, remarking: ‘"‘That is a curious knife you have. I have noticed it several times." WITH A STARTLED CRY, CONSTANTINE WHIRLED, HIS FACE CONVULSED. The breed grunted unintelligibly and was about to leave when Boyd reached *‘Nothing. Only if you ever have any trouble with Mr. Marsh I may be able to help you. I like you, and I don‘t like him." f "Me go Indian village. What for you ask?‘ "Yes, I‘ve seen him. He‘s a fine litâ€" tle fellow. By the way, do you reâ€" member that night about two weeks ago when 1 was at Cherry‘s houseâ€" the night you and your sister went out?" "I ‘member." "Where did you go?‘ Constantine shifted his walrus soled boots. *‘What for you ask?‘ "‘Never mind! Where did you go when you left the house? Another native extended a coin, sayâ€" Constantine hesitated slightly before answering, "Me go work for Cherry." “Why?,) "She good to my little broder. You saryy little chil‘renâ€"so big?‘ THE INDEPENDENT, GRIMSBY, ONT. "You don‘t understand," said Boyd. i "You are primitive; you have lived in the open. She is exactly your opposite. Conservatism is bred in her, and she can‘t bhelp her nature. It was hard even for me to understand at first, but when I saw her life, when I saw how she had been reared from childhood, | I understood perfectly. I would noti bhave her other than she is. It is enough for me to know that in her own way she cares for me." | The words had come tumbling forth until Cherry was forced to pause for breath. "And you think that woman loves you! Why, she isn‘t a woman at all. She doesn‘t know what love means. When a woman loves, do you imagine she cares for money or fame or sucâ€" cess? If I cared for a man do you think I‘d stop to ask my father if I might marry him or wait for my lover to prove himself worthy of me? Do you think I‘d send him through the hell you have suffered to try his metal?‘ She laughed ouright. "Why, I‘d become what he was, and I‘d fight with him. Td give him all I hadâ€" money, position, friends, influence. If my people objected IT‘d tell them to go hang. T‘d give them up and join him. Td use every dollar, every wile and feminine device that I possessed, in his service. When a woman loves she doesn‘t care what the world says. The man may be a weakling or worse, but he is still her lover, and she will go to "Yes, but this is my fight, and I‘ve got to make good without her assistâ€" ance. She isn‘t the sort to marry a failure, and she has left me to make my own way. Besides, she would not dare go contrary to her father‘s wishes even if she desired. That is part of her education. Oh, Wayne Wayland‘s opâ€" position isn‘t all I have had to overâ€" come,. I have had to show his daughâ€" ter that I am one of her own kind, for she hates weakness." ‘"‘Why won‘t she help you?" queried Cherry. "Doesn‘t she care enough about you? Doesn‘t she know enough to understand your plight?‘ "‘Miss Wayland will take no hand in my affairs. I doubt if she will even realize what this trouble is all about," he said, a trifie stifly. "I suppose I did want to play the hero, and I dare say I did use you and the others, but you knew that all the time." Emerson gazed at her in astonishâ€" ment, the outburst had been so unexâ€" pected, but he realized that he owed ber too much to take offense. "It seems that you wanted to pose as a hero before her and employed us to build up your triumph. Well, I am glad we failed; I‘m glad Willis Marsh showed you how very helpless you are. Let her come to your rescue now. I‘m through. Do you understand? I‘m through!" Boyd shook his head in negation, but she gave him no time for speech. "Oh, yes, I do. I dare say it will gratâ€" ify her to straighten out your troubles. A word from her lips and your worries will vanish like a mist. Let us acâ€" Enowledge ourselves beaten and beg her to save us.‘" Cherry tossed her head in derision. I bhave been breaking my heart over this enterprise, while you have known all the time that she was coming. Why, you have merely used meâ€"and George, and all the rest of us, for that matter." She laughed harshly. "You don‘t understand," said Boyd. "Miss Wayland"â€" "Of course I ghall need your help. Her‘ coming won‘t make any differâ€" ence," "It strikes me that you have allowed me to make a fool of myself long enough," said Cherry angrily. "Here "Bo she can‘t wait? She is so eager that she follows you from Chicago clear up into this wilderness. Then you won‘t need my assistance any more, will you?" Her lids drooped, half hiding her eyes, and her face hardened. "Isâ€"is she coming here?‘ demanded Cherry in a strained voice. “Yes.,’ "Why didn‘t you tell me?‘ "1 don‘t know; I didn‘t think you would be interested." Now!" He fiung up his hands in a gesture of despair. "George is in trouble, as usual. Marsh‘s men have cut our nets, and the yacht may arâ€" rive.at any time." "The yacht! What yacht? "Mr. Wayland‘s yacht. He is makâ€" ing a tour of this coast with the other officers of the trust andâ€"Mildred." "sSo bhave I," he confessed. "Even with those fifty Aleuts we weren‘t runâ€" ning at more than balf capacity, but we were making a showing at least. «‘Since they can‘t use your money at the store, they don‘t seem to care whether it is good or not," Cherry anâ€" nounced after a time. "Oh, but it‘s maddening!" She stamped her foot angrily. "And I was so proud of my work. I thought I had really done something to help at last But I don‘t know what more we can do. I‘ve reached the end of my rope." At the native village, in spite of every effort she and Boyd could make, the Indians refused to go back to work. "I don‘t know what to make of her. She and Constantine have been acting very strangely of late. She used to be the happiest sort of creature, always laughing and singing, but she bas changed entirely during the last few weeks. Both she and Constantine are forever whispering to each other and skulking about until I am getting nervous myself." Then, as the Indian girl came fiying back with her tiny baby brother in her arms, Cherry addâ€" ed: *"She‘s pretty, isn‘t she? I can‘t bear ugly people around me." treaty. When she had received perâ€" mission &and had hurried back to the bhouse ber mistress remarked, with a puzzled frown: * A "Wait. Wayne Wayland is aboard that yacht. I know him. He‘s a hard man, and I‘ve heard strange stories about him, but I don‘t believe he knows all that Marsh has been doing. I‘m going to see him and tell him everything." "S‘pose he turns you down? "Then there will be time enough toâ€" to consider what you suggest. I don‘t like to think about it." _ To Boyd Emerson she seemed like an langel‘ of mercy, and hbhe stood forth upon the deck of his launch searching ‘ her hungrily for the sight of a woâ€" man‘s figure. When he had first seen the ship rounding the point he had uttered a cry, then fallen silent watchâ€" ing her as she drew near, heedless of his surroundings. His heart was leapâ€" | ing; his breath was choking him. It ’ seemed as if he must shout Mildred‘s name aloud and stretch his arms out to her. Of course she would see him as the Grande Dame passed. She would be looking for him, he knew. She would be standing there, wet with the i dew, searching with all her eyes. | Doubtless she had waited patiently at ; her post from the instant land came into sight. Seized by a sudden panic i lest she pass him unnoticed, he orderâ€" | ed his launch near the yacht‘s course. { His eyes roved over the craft, but all \ he saw were a uniformed officer upon | the bridge and the bronzed faces of . the watch staring over the rail. He saw close drawn curtains over the cabâ€" in windows, indicating that the passenâ€" gers were still asleep. Then as he !stood there heavy hearted, drooping with fatigue, his wet body chilled by the morning‘s breath, the Grande ‘ Dame glided past, and he found the shell beneath his feet rocking in hber wake. "I‘ve watched that point of land for five years, and I never seen fish act this way before," Balt growled stubâ€" bornly. "If they don‘t strike in toâ€" day we better close down. Marsh‘s men cut half our nets and crippled more than half our crew last night." He beâ€" gan to rumble curses. "Say, we made a mistake the other day, didn‘t we? We‘d ought to have put that feller away. It ain‘t too late yet." ‘‘Some of our boys is hurt pretty bad," he observed. "I‘ve told them to take in their nets and go back to the plant." "We all need breakfast." "I don‘t want nothing. I‘m going over to the trap." ' Emerson shrugged his shoulders list. lessly; he was very tired. "What is the use? It won‘t pay us to lift it." George Balt hailed him and brought bhis own launch alongside. "What craft is that?"‘ he inquired. "‘She is the company‘s yacht with the N. A. P. A. officers aboard." "You don‘t have to," said Balt, lowâ€" CHAPTER XVIL. ‘ S the sun slanted up between the southward hills out from the gossamer haze that lay like filmy forest smoke above the ocean came a snow white yacht. All that afternoon and on through the long, murky hours of the night the battle raged on the lower reaches of the Kalvik. Boat crews clashed; half clad men cursed each other and fought with naked fists, with oars and clubs, and when these failed they drove at one another with wicked one tined. fish "pues." All night the bhordes of salmon swarmed upward toward the fatal waters of their birth, through sagging nets that were torn and slit, beneath keels that rocked to the imâ€" pact of struggling, heedless bodies. He hurried through the building, now silent and half deserted, gatherâ€" ing a crew; then, leaving only the oriâ€" entals and the watchman to guard the plant, he loaded his men into the boats and set out. *"*Very well; he‘s no good anyhow. He‘s better out of the way." "We can‘t dAllow ourselves to be driven from the banks,‘" said Boyd quickly. "I‘ll get the shoremen toâ€" gether right away. Find Alton and bring him along. We‘ll need every man we can get." *"‘Nothing doing with that party. He‘s quit like a house cat and gone to bed." "Big George is in more trouble. He sent for help two hours ago. 1 was just going to ‘beat it‘ down there." "What‘s up? "There‘s six of your men in the bunk house all beat up. They don‘t look like they‘d fish any more for awhile. Marsh‘s men threw their salmon overâ€" board, and they bad another fight. Things are getting warm." Cherry Malotte turned slowly to the landing place and made her way into the launch. All the way back she kept silence, and Boyd, confused by bher atâ€" tack upon the citadel of his faith and strangely sore at heart, made no effort at speech. Why ?" *"‘Fingerless‘" Fraser met him at the water‘s edge. "Where in the devil have you been?‘ he cried breathlessly. "At the Indian village after help. *‘Yes," she answered without hesitaâ€" tion, looking him squarely in the eye with an expression be could not fathâ€" om. ‘"Thank hbheaven, I‘m not the artificial kind! As you say, I‘m primiâ€" tive. I have lived!" Her crimson lips curled scornfully. "I didn‘t expect you to understand ber," hbhe said. "But she loves me. And Iâ€"well, she is my religion. A man must have some God. He can‘t worship his own image." I don‘t want to have it proved to me like a problem in geometery. I want to love and bate and do wild, impulâ€" sive things against my own judgment." "For my part I prefer red blood to sap. and when I love I want to know it "Have you ever loved in that way? he inquired abruptly. No woman could have beheld his burning eagerness without an answerâ€" ing thrill, and, although Mildred sat motionless, her lids drooped slightly and a faint eolor tinged her cheeks. "I want to be alone with you.‘"‘ he cried huskily. "My arms ache for you. Come away from here; this is torture. I‘m like a man dying of thirst." ‘"I am tired," he confessed, feeling anew the weariness of the past twenâ€" tyâ€"four hours» He covertly stroked a fold of her dress, murmuring: "You are here, after all. And you love me, Mildred? You haven‘t changed, have you?" ‘‘Not at all. Have you?" His deep breath and the light that flamed into his face was her answer. "It doesn‘t seem possible. I can‘t beâ€" lieve that this is really youâ€"that I am not dreaming, as usual." "And you? How have you been?" *"I‘ve been wellâ€"I guess I have. I bhaven‘t had time to think of myself. Oh, my lady!" His voice broke with tenderness, and he laid his hand gently upon hers. ‘Bhe withdrew it quickly. "Not here! ~Remember where we are. You are not looking well, Boyd. I don‘t know that 1 ever saw you look so bad. Perhaps it is your clothes." here, Mildred. You really came, after all?" "Yes. Boyvd." "Yes, Boyd." "And are you glad?" "Indeed I am. The trip has been wonderful." an air of unconscious proprietorship that Willis Marsh grew pale to the lips and turned his back. Other people whom Boyd had not noticed until now came down the deckâ€"men and women with fieldglasses and cameras swung over their shoulders. He found that be was being introduced to theitn by Mildred, whose voice betrayed no tremor and whose manners were as collected as if this were her own drawâ€" ing room and the man at her side a casual acquaintance. The strangers mingled with the little group, leveled their glasses and made senseless reâ€" marks after the manner of tourists the world over.‘ Boyd gathered somehow that they were officers of the trust or heavy stockholders and their wives. He led Mildred to a deck chair and seated himself beside her. Alton Clyde was at his heels, and he felt Mildred disengage her hand. He tore his eyes away from her face long enough to nod at Marsh, who gave him a menacing look, then turned to Wayne Wayland. The old man was saying something, and Boyd answered him unintelligibly, after which he took Mildred‘s hands once more with such He never remembered the spoken greetings nor the looks the others gave him, for her soft, cool hands lay in his hard, feverish palms, and she was smilâ€" ing up at him. With knees shaking under him he came stumbling up the landing ladder, a tall, gaunt figure of a man in rough clothing and boots stained with the sea salt. He looked older by five years than when the girl had last seen him, His cheeks were hollowed and his lips cracked by the wind, but his eyes were affame with the old light. His smile was for her alone. Willis Marsh was ahead of him, standing with Mr. Wayland at the rail. Some oneâ€"else was with them. Boyd‘s heart leaped wildly as he recognized ber. He would have known that slim figure anywhere. And Mildred saw him, too, pointing him out to her comâ€" panions. At the plant he found Alton Clyde tremendously excited at the arrival of the yacht and eager tovisit his friends. He sent him to the launch and after a bhasty breakfast joined him. On their way out Boyd felt a return of that misgiving which had mastered him on his first meeting with Mildred in Chicago. For the second time he was bringing her failure instead of the promised victory. Boyd returned to the cannery with the old mood of self disgust and bitterâ€" ness beavy upon him He realized that George‘s offer to commit murder bad not shocked him as much as upon its first mention. He knew that bhe had thought of shedding buman blood with as little compunction as if the intendâ€" ed victim had been some noxious aniâ€" mal. He felt, indeed,. that if his love for Mildred made him a criminal she, too, would be soiled by his dishonor, and for bher sake be shrank from the idea of violence, yet he lacked the energy at that time to put it from him. Well, he would go to her father, humâ€" ble himself and beg for protection. If be failed then Marsbh must look out for himself. He could not find it in his beart to spare his enemy. "At last!" WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1915 "No,." he said. "Perhaps I wouldn‘t stick at murderâ€"I don‘t know. But I won‘t profit by another man‘s crime, and if it comes to that I‘ll take my share of the risk and the guilt. Whatâ€" ever you do, I stand with you. But we‘ll hope for better things. It‘s no easy thing for me to go to Mr. Wayâ€" land asking a favor. You see, his daughter isâ€" Well, Iâ€"I want to see ber very badly." Balt eyed him shrewdly. *"I see! And that makes it dead wrong for you to take a hand. If it‘s necessary to get Marsh T‘ll do it alone. With him out of the way I think you can make a go of it. He‘s like a ratâ€" tlerâ€"somebody‘s got to stomp on him. Now I‘m off for the trap. Let me know what the old man says." ering bhis volce so that the belmsmen could not hear. "I‘ve been thinking it over all night, and it looks like I‘d ought to do it myself. Marsh is comâ€" ing to me anyhow, andâ€"I‘m older than you be. It ain‘t right for a young felâ€" ler like you to take a chance. If they get me you can run the business alone." Boyd laid his hand on his companâ€" fon‘s shoulder. bhe breathed. "You are