must
promise me solemnly not to make any attempt against your life."

"I promise nothing," muttered Underwood doggedly.

"But you must," she insisted. "It would be a terrible crime, not only
against yourself, but against others. You must give me your word."

Underwood shook his head.

"I promise nothing."

"But you must," persisted Alicia. "I won't stir from here until I have
your promise."

He looked at her curiously.

"If my life has no interest for you, why should you care?" he asked.

There was a note of scorn in his voice which aroused his visitor's
wrath. Crumpling up his letter in her hand, she confronted him angrily.

"Shall I tell you why I care?" she cried. "Because you accuse me in this
letter of being the cause of your death--I, who have been your friend in
spite of your dishonesty. Oh! it's despicable, contemptible! Above all,
it's a lie----"

Underwood shrugged his shoulders. Cynically he replied:

"So it wasn't so much concern for me as for yourself that brought you
here."

Alicia's eyes flashed as she answered:

"Yes, I wished to spare myself this indignity--the shame of being
associated in any way with a suicide. I was afraid you meant what you
said."

"Afraid," interrupted Underwood bitterly, "that some of the scandal
might reach as far as the aristocratic Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Sr.!"

Her face flushed with anger, Alicia paced up and down the room. The
man's taunts stung her to the quick. In a way, she felt that he was
right. She ought to have guessed his character long ago and had nothing
to do with him. He seemed desperate enough to do anything, yet she
doubted if he had the courage to kill himself. She thought she would try
more conciliatory methods, so, stopping short, she said more gently:

"You know how my husband has suffered through the wretched marriage of
his only son. You know how deeply we both feel this disgrace, and yet
you would add----"

Underwood laughed mockingly.

"Why should I consider your husband's feelings?" he cried. "He didn't
consider mine when he married you." Suddenly bending forward, every
nerve tense, he continued hoarsely: "Alicia, I tell you I'm desperate.
I'm hemmed in on all sides by creditors. You know what your
friendship--your patronage means? If you drop me now, your friends will
follow--they're a lot of sheep led by you--and when my creditors hear of
me they'll be down on me like a flock of wolves. I'm not able to make a
settlement. Prison s