ot a syllable uttered, and they walked out quickly."

"Will you do me the kindness to persuade her to see me?"

"I am sure, sir, she will refuse; because she desires most especially
to be shielded from your visits."

"Nevertheless, I intend to see her. Please say that I am here, and have
brought the papers Mr. Singleton desired me to prepare for her."

Ten minutes elapsed before the warden's wife returned, shaking her head:

"She prefers not seeing you, but thanks you for the paper which she
wishes left with Mr. Singleton. When she has read it, Mr. Singleton
will probably bring you some message. She hopes you will believe that
she is very grateful for your attention to her request."

"Go back and tell her that unless she admits me, she shall never see
the paper, for I distinctly decline to put it in any hand but hers;
and, moreover, tell her she asked me to obtain for her a certain
article which, for reasons best known to herself, she holds very dear.
This is her only opportunity to receive it, which must be directly from
me. Say that this is the last time I will insist upon intruding, and
after to-day she shall not be allowed the privilege of refusing me an
audience. I am here solely in her behalf, and I am determined to see
her now."

When Mrs. Singleton came back the second time, she appeared unwontedly
subdued, perplexed; and her usually merry eyes were gravely fixed with
curious intentness upon the face of her visitor.

"The room straight ahead of you, with the door partly open, at the end
of this corridor. She sees you 'only on condition that this is to be
the final annoyance'. Mr. Dunbar, you were born to tyrannize. It seems
to me you have merely to will a thing, in order to accomplish it."

"If that were true, do you suppose I would allow her to remain one hour
in this accursed cage of blood-smeared criminals?"

Down the dim corridor he walked slowly, as if in no haste to finish his
errand, stepped into the designated cell, and closed the door behind
him.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The apartment eight by twelve feet possessed the redeeming feature of a
high ceiling, and on either side of the southwest corner wall, a window
only two feet wide allowed the afternoon sunshine to print upon the
bare floor the shadow of longitudinal iron bars fastened into the stone
sills. A narrow bedstead, merely a low black cot of interlacing iron
straps, stood against the eastern side, and opposite, a broad shelf,
also