"

"I seen the fence around the jail yard where they're goin' to hang him;
I went over on purpose yesterday with one of the neighbors and took
Arthur; I thought it would be improvin', but he'd seen it before. There
ain't much he don't see--for all I can do he just runs the streets."

Joe's resolution had been formed while she was speaking, and now he
snatched his ragged cap from the floor.

"You stay right here till I get back!" he said gruffly.

It was not his habit to discuss affairs of any moment with Mrs.
Montgomery, since in a general way he doubted the clearness of the
feminine judgment, and in the present instance he had no intention of
taking her into his confidence. The great problem by which he was
confronted he would settle in his own fashion.

"You ain't in any trouble, Joe?" and Nellie's eyes widened with the
birth of sudden fear.

The handy-man was standing by the door, and she went to his side.

"Me? No, I guess not; but I got an everlastin' dose of it for the other
fellow!" and he reached for the knob.

"Was it what I said about the police wantin' you?" his wife asked
timidly.

She knew that his dealings with the police had never been of an
especially fortunate nature. He shook off the hand she had placed on his
arm.

"You keep your mouth shut till I get back!" he said, and pushing open
the door, passed out.

The night had cleared since he crossed the bridge, and from the great
blue arch of heaven the new moon gave her radiance to a sleeping world.
But Montgomery was aware only of his purpose as he slouched along the
path toward the railroad track. The horror of North's fate had fixed his
determination, nothing of terror or fear that he had ever known was
comparable to the emotion he was experiencing now. He did not even
speculate on the consequences to himself of the act he had decided on.
They said that he had hanged John North--he got the credit for
that--well, John North wasn't hanged yet! He tossed his arms aloft. "My
God, I didn't mean to do that!" he muttered.

He had gained the railroad tracks and was running toward the bridge, the
very seconds seemed of infinite value to him, for suppose he should have
difficulty in finding Moxlow? And if he found the prosecuting attorney,
would he believe his story? A shudder passed through him. He was quite
near the bridge when suddenly he paused and a whispered curse slipped
from between his parted lips. A man was standing at the entrance to th