me in that style!
It's time we all got down to cases in this thing, Kate. I've waited for
her long enough. She has simply fluffed me along. Now she has got to do
her part."

"Have you lost your mind?" she demanded.

"No! But I lost five thousand dollars when I loaned it to your mother.
Kate, she told me she had a stock deal on--that she would be able to pay
it back. Listen! I may as well go the limit with you. I took money that
wasn't mine so that I could help your mother out--it was because I loved
you. Now you realize how much I have loved you. I protected your mother.
And now, by the gods, if you and she don't come to the scratch in this
thing and do right by me I'll show up why she had to be protected,
and after that you'll never draw a happy breath again in your life. I
advised you to talk with your mother once before. This time you'd better
to it."

She leaned back in her chair, white and trembling, for his tones carried
conviction.

"I have hated to open this thing up, Kate. I have waited a long time,
hoping you'd understand that I would make a good husband--that I
deserved to have you. I'm only speaking out now so that you'll wake up.
You've got to stand by the man who has stood by you. Go talk with your
mother!"

After he had hurried out she went back to her work, but her fingers
could only fumble at the keys. By effort of will persons of strong
character can compose themselves after disaster has been confirmed;
but impending disaster that is hinted at--guessed at--is a menace which
paralyzes. She was endeavoring to write down what Richard Dodd had
revealed of the plans of Walker Farr. She understood that the mighty
power of the state machine was now doubling its fist over the head of
the stranger who had come into her life in such peculiar fashion. At the
same moment she was cowering under the threat of something she did not
fully understand.

And from the Dodds--uncle and nephew--came the menace which loomed over
both of them.

Then to her came Peter Briggs, who had been summoned to a conference in
the inner office; by direction of his chief he had been reading to Judge
Warren certain entries penciled in the note-book which he guarded with
the elastic band.

"The governor wants you to add these items to the record, so that the
judge can have a copy," said Mr. Briggs to the confidential secretary.
"The subject isn't a very genteel one, Miss Kilgour, but orders are
orders, and you'll have to excuse