ly fair
offer.

"What will the old miser ever do for you?" the voice went on, "or his
slack-twisted son for that matter? Let them stew in their own juice.
Give me your word, and you'll be taken home to-night."

"And if I won't?" said Evan.

"Oh, we'll have to keep you prisoner until we have pulled off our big
coup. I can't say how long that will be."

Evan said coolly: "Well, I'll see you all damned first."

There was a stir in the room. "Ah!" said the voice that fronted him,
coolly. "As a young man of spirit I suppose you feel that is the only
possible answer. It's too bad. You may go down-stairs." He called
for Aunt Liza.

Evan was returned to his prison on the ground floor.

Aunt Liza said: "Sit down, honey. Be a good boy and let me tie yo'
feet together. If you acks ugly I'll have to call the gemmen."

Evan submitted. His ankles were bound, the bandage over his eyes
removed, and he was left to his own devices.

The leaden minutes slowly added themselves up to hours. For a long
time in his rage he could not think clearly. He was all for defiance,
defiance though his life paid the forfeit. But in the end he was bound
to cool off and a craftier voice began to advise him.

"I owe this gang neither truth nor loyalty," he thought. "They struck
me from behind. They carried me off. They trussed me up like a fowl
for roasting. They're about a dozen to one against me. By fair means
I haven't a ghost of a show against them. Very well, I'll use foul.
If they are simple enough to let me lie myself out of their hands, I'll
do it."

Late in the evening he was sent for again. He was eager now to face
his jailors. As before his eyes were blindfolded, and his ankles
freed. Aunt Liza took him up-stairs and retired.

The mocking voice said: "Well, Weir, I didn't want to leave you in that
rat-infested room all night without giving you a chance to change your
mind. Wouldn't you rather sleep between your own sheets?"

"I would," said Evan coolly. "I have changed my mind. As you say,
Simeon Deaves and his son are nothing to me. I will let them alone
hereafter."

"Good man," said the other. "You promise to have nothing further to do
with them?"

"I promise to have nothing further to do with them."

A new voice spoke up, a voice that vibrated with anger and hate:
"That's too thin! He's trying to fool us! Can't you hear the lie in
his voice?"

"Wait a minute," said the other, "I'll put him u