ied soon after you
left us. Jim Blake had interests with Hardman back in Texas. He
talked big--and drank a good deal. He and Hardman quarreled. It was
the same big deal that ruined your father. But Jim came to New Mexico
with Hardman. They were getting along all right when we arrived. But,
trouble soon arose--and that over Lucy.... Young Dick Hardman--you
certainly ought to remember him, Pan--fell madly in love with Lucy.
Dick always was a wild boy. Here in Marco he went the pace. Well, bad
as Jard Hardman is he loves that boy and would move heaven and earth
for him. Lucy despised Dick. The more he ran after her the more she
despised him. Also the more she flouted Dick the wilder he drank and
gambled. Now here comes the pitiful part of it. Jim Blake went
utterly to the bad, so your father says, though Lucy hopes and believes
she can save him. I do too. Jim was only weak. Jard Hardman ruined
him. Finally Dick enlisted his father in his cause and they forced Jim
to try to make Lucy marry Dick. She refused. She left her father's
place and went to live with her Uncle Bill, who was an honest fine man.
But he was shot in the Yellow Mine. By accident, they gave out, but
your father scouts that idea... Oh, those dreadful gambling hells!
Life is cheap here.... Lucy came to live with us. She taught the
school. But she had to give that up. Dick Hardman and other wild
young fellows made her life wretched. Besides she was never safe. We
persuaded her to give it up. And then the--the worst happened."

Mrs. Smith paused, wiping her wet eyes, and appeared to dread further
disclosure. She lifted an appealing hand to Pan.

"What--what was it, Mother?" he asked, fearfully.

"Didn't--she--Lucy tell you anything?" faltered his mother.

"Yes--the greatest thing in the world--that she loved me," burst out
Pan with exultant passion.

"Oh, how terrible!"

"No, Mother, not that, but beautiful, wonderful, glorious.... Go on."

"Then--then they put Jim Blake in jail," began Mrs. Smith.

"What for?" flashed Pan.

"To hold him there, pending action back in Texas. Jim Blake was a
cattle thief. There's little doubt of that, your father says. You
know there's law back east, at least now in some districts. Well, Jard
Hardman is holding Jim in jail. It seems Hardman will waive trial,
provided--provided.... Oh, how can I tell you!"

"My God! I see!" cried Pan, leaping in fierce passion. "They will try
to