alley, and the man was not John
North. He seemed unwilling that North, through any instrumentality of
his, should suffer for a crime of which he was innocent; his feeling on
this point was unfeigned and unmistakable."

There was silence again, while the two men stared at each other. From
the parlor the jarring sound of the music reached them, inconceivably
out of harmony with the seriousness of their mood.

"I have wished to take no action in the matter of Montgomery's
disappearance until I saw you, Marshall," said the judge. "I have been
sick with this thing! Now I am going to lay such facts as I have before
Moxlow."

Marshall stared moodily into the fire. He told himself that the
prosecuting attorney would be in great luck if he got anything out of
Gilmore.

"I purpose to suggest to Moxlow a fresh line of investigation where this
important witness is concerned, and Mr. Gilmore as the man most likely
to clear up the mystery surrounding his disappearance from Mount Hope.
We may not be able to get anything very tangible out of him in the way
of information, but I imagine we may cause him some little anxiety and
annoyance. You can't afford to be mixed up in this affair, and I warn
you again to stand clear of Gilmore! If there is any truth in
Montgomery's statement it can only have the most sinister significance,
for I don't need to tell you that some powerful motive must be back of
Gilmore's activity. If North was not responsible for McBride's death,
where do the indications all point? Who more likely to commit such a
crime than a social outcast--a man plying an illegal trade in defiance
of the laws?"

"Hush! For God's sake speak lower!" cried Marshall, giving way to an
uncontrollable emotion of terror.

Racked and shaken, he stared about him as if he feared another presence
in the room. The judge leaned forward and rested a thin hand on his
son's knee.

"Marshall, what do you know of Gilmore's connection with this matter?"

"I want him let alone! To lay such stress on Montgomery's drunken talk
is absurd!"

The judge's lips met in a determined line.

"I scarcely expected to hear that from you! I am not likely, as you
know, to be influenced in the discharge of my duty by any private
consideration."

He quitted his chair and stood erect, his figure drawn to its fullest
height.

"Wait--I didn't mean that," protested Marshall.

The judge resumed his chair.

"What did you mean?" he asked.

"What's the us