t known in Bogota. She was
timid, and went out seldom. And then--then I thought that a marriage
here would strengthen my position, for I was powerful and proud.

"Oh, the years that her sad face haunted me! I was mad, mad! I know
not why, but when the _Cossack_ was built I had her portrait in glass
set in the smoking room. And night after night I have sat before it
and cursed myself, and implored her to forgive!"

"But--the locket?" said Father Waite.

"It came from Spain. I was Guillermo to her, and she Dolores to me.
But I had never forgotten it. Had Carmen ever worn it in my presence I
must have recognized it at once. Oh, God, that she had! What would it
not have saved!"

"Father!" The girl's arms were about his neck.

"But," said Ames, choking down his sorrow, "that man is dead. He, like
Goliath, fought Truth, and the Truth fell upon him, crushing him to
powder. The man who remains with you now lives only in this little
girl. And she has brought me my own son, Sidney, and another, Jose.
All that I have is theirs, and they will give it to the world. I would
that she could have brought me that noble black man, Rosendo, who laid
down his beautiful life when he saw that his work was done. I learn
from my inquiries that he and Dona Maria lived with Don Nicolas far up
the Boque river during the troublous times when Simiti was burned and
devastated. And that, when the troops had gone, they returned to their
desolated home, and died, within a month of each other. What do I not
owe to them! And can my care of their daughter Ana and her little son
ever cancel the debt? Alas, no!"

Sidney turned to the man. "Father, does Jose know that it was Kathleen
whom he rescued from the Tiber in Rome, years ago, and who caused him
to lose his notebook?"

Another exclamation burst from Jose. Ames shook his head. "No, Sidney,
we had not told him. Ah, how small is the world! And how inextricably
bound together we all are! And, Jose, I have not told you that the
woman who lived and died alone in the limestone caves near Honda, and
whose story you had from Don Jorge in Simiti, was doubtless the
faithful old nurse of Dolores. My investigations all but confirm it.
Padre Rafael de Rincon maintained her there."

Haynerd entered the room at that moment, and with him came Miss Wall.

"Now," said Hitt softly, "the circle is complete. Carmen, may I--"

The girl rose at once and went into the music room. Those who remained
sat in awed, exp