hat night's tragedy? She
could not be expected, within reason, to do this. Even the thought that
she might weaken and do so was abhorrent to Joe. It was not a woman's
part to make a sacrifice like that; the world did not expect it of her.
It rested with Morgan, the traitor to hospitality; Morgan, the
ingratiating scoundrel, to come forward and set him free. Morgan alone
could act honorably in that clouded case; but if he should elect to
remain hidden and silent, who would be left to answer but Joe Newbolt?

And should he reveal the thing that would bring him liberty? Was freedom
more precious than his honor, and the honor of a poor, shrinking,
deluded woman?

No. He was bound by a gentleman's obligation; self-assumed, self-appointed.
He could not tell.

But what a terrible situation, what an awful outlook for him in such
event! They hung men for murder on the jail-yard gallows, with a knot of
rope behind the left ear and a black cap over the face. And such a death
left a stain upon the name that nothing would purify. It was an
attainder upon generations unborn.

Joe walked his cell in the agony of his sudden and acute understanding
of the desperate length to which this thing might carry him. Hammer had
protested, with much show of certainty, that he would get him off
without much difficulty. But perhaps Hammer was counting on him to
reveal what he had kept to himself at the inquest. What should he do
about that in his relations with Hammer? Should he tell him about
Morgan, and have him set men on his track to drag him back and make him
tell the truth? Granting that they found him, who was there to make him
speak?

Could not Morgan and Ollie, to cover their own shame and blame, form a
pact of silence or denial and turn back his good intentions in the form
of condemnation upon his own head? How improbable and unworthy of belief
his tale, with its reservations and evasions, would sound to a jury with
Morgan and Ollie silent.

The fright of his situation made him feverish; he felt that he could
tear at the walls with his hands, and scream, and scream until his heart
would burst. He was unmanned there in the dark. He began to realize this
finally after his frenzy had thrown him into a fever. He gave over his
pacing of the little cell, and sat down again to reason and plan.

Hammer had made so much talk about the papers which he would get ready
that Joe had been considerably impressed. He saw now that it would
requir