u care, I mean."

She interrupted me.

"Sit down--here where you were before; it will not seem so much like
your talking to me from a distance."

I obeyed. The chairs were quite close together.

"It seems to me," I went on, "that we should continue in the direction
that has been pointed out for us; follow the light, however dim. There
is a mystery here, and we are just now only skimming the surface of it;
let's plunge below and see if we can't bring up at least a part of the
truth.

"It is hard to believe that Alfred Fluette has been instrumental in
Felix Page's death, even indirectly, but harder, more unjust to him, to
pause without dissipating the cloud we have unexpectedly cast over him.
The temptation to scrutinize his conduct and bearing is irresistible.
Is it not better to lay bare all the facts, than to leave matters in
the equivocal condition they now are?"

"You mean," she murmured brokenly, "you mean that--now--after what has
happened between us--the duty of pressing forward at whatever cost is
far more imperative than any other obligation that I may be under; that
the innocent must not be sacrificed to shield the guilty."

That was precisely what I meant, but I lacked the courage to tell her.

"My dear Miss Cooper!" I said, in a voice as tremulous with emotion as
her own.

"I trust you," she said simply.

I knew not what to say; her faith in me was manifestly so boundless
that I was humbled to the earth. And yesterday we were ignorant of
each other's very existence! Stressful circumstance can level the
conventions with amazing swiftness.

"You are trembling," she whispered presently. "I am making what would
be a commonplace matter very difficult for you."

"No--no!" I protested. "I feel for you; I can't tell you how much."

"Don't think of me," she again whispered, her look averted.

"I can think of nothing else," said I. My teeth suddenly clenched, and
I bent toward her.

"I'll not allow this thing!" I undertoned in a savage outburst,
recognizing the futility of my anger even as I spoke. "I shall not
allow you to become further involved in this thing. Whatever the cost,
_I_ shall shield _you_."

A pitiful smile stirred her lips.

"You have shown me my duty," she said, with gentle firmness; "you can't
dissuade me now."

What do words avail at such a time? I loved this splendid girl, and my
heart ached for her. I was almost swept from my balance by a sudden
mad yearning to ta