aid General Herbert, and Conklin withdrew, leaving the two
alone.

There was an awkward pause as they faced each other. The older man was
the first to speak.

"I regret this!" he said at length.

"Not more than I do!" rejoined North, with a fleeting sense of humor.

He wondered what it was that had brought Elizabeth's father there.

"What's the matter with Moxlow, anyhow?" the general demanded.

He glanced sharply into North's face. He saw that the young fellow was
rather pale, but otherwise his appearance was unchanged.

"All the evidence seems to point my way," said North, and added a trifle
nervously: "I don't understand it--it isn't clear to me by any means! It
came so suddenly, and I was totally unprepared to meet the situation. I
had talked to Moxlow in the morning, but he had let drop nothing that
led me to suppose I was under suspicion. Of course I am not afraid. I
know that it will come out all right in the end--"

"Do you want anything, North? Is there anything I can do for you?" asked
General Herbert almost roughly.

"Thank you, but apparently there is nothing that any one can do just
now," said North quietly.

The color was creeping back into his face.

"Well, we can't sit idle! Look here, you tried for bail, I understand?"

"Yes, but it has been refused."

"Do you know when the grand jury sits?"

"Next week. Of course my hope is that it won't go beyond that; I don't
see how it can!"

"Why didn't you send for me at once?" asked the older man with
increasing bruskness. He took a turn about the room. "What does it all
mean? What do you know about McBride's death?" he continued, halting
suddenly.

"Absolutely nothing," said North.

And for an instant the two men looked straight into each other's eyes.

"You are sure you don't need anything--money, for instance?" the general
asked, shifting his glance.

"I am quite sure, but I am very grateful to you all the same--"

"Of course the evidence against you is purely circumstantial?"

"I believe so--yes," answered North. "But there are points I don't
understand."

"I am coming in to-morrow morning to see you, and talk the whole thing
over with you, North."

"I shall be very glad to talk matters over with you, General," said
North.

"I wish I could do something for you to-night!" the general said with
real feeling, for he realized the long evening, and the longer night
that were before the young fellow.

There was a pause. The general