nd
there was a beaten path across the rear which had been for years a short
cut between Amzi's and his sisters' houses. He was in no mood for a
meeting with any intruder who might be there at this hour, and he was
about to steal back the way he had come when a man's voice rose
suddenly in anger. A woman replied, evidently counseling a lower tone.

"Here in Tom's graveyard is a fitting place to talk over our affairs.
You needn't be in such a hurry to go. We may as well fix this thing up
now and be done with it. I'm broke; I haven't got a cent, and it's
tough, I can tell you. But it's some satisfaction to know that Will's
broke, too. I took care that he got his, all right. The Holtons are all
down and out. Will's as poor as I am, and my gay nephew Charlie's busy
dodging the sheriff. Not much left for Will now but to go out and rustle
for life insurance--the common fate of inglorious failure."

The woman's voice rose crisp and assured on the tender spring air.

"Your note said it was something of importance. I can't stay here all
night. I haven't any money for you and your family troubles don't
interest me. And let me say, once and for all, that I don't propose to
have you following me round. This is a big world and there's room in it
for both of us."

Kirkwood could not see them, though he heard perfectly every word that
had been spoken, and he could not escape without attracting their
attention.

"See here, Lois, I've just heard a whisper from Seattle that you cleaned
up a lot of money out there. Good joke on me, wasn't it? I thought you
were pretty thick with the Barkleys, but I didn't know he had let you
into his deals. I want my share; if it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't
have known Seattle was on the map. It's only fair; I'll call it fifty
thousand and let it go at that."

"Nothing; absolutely not a penny! I advise you to make yourself scarce.
And if you attempt to annoy me while I'm here, I'll do something very
unpleasant about it. I agreed to meet you to-night merely to tell you
that."

Kirkwood heard her step on the walk, and drew back. The light of the
moon was full upon her. She was bareheaded and wrapped in a long coat.
It was thus that he saw her again, in the shadow of the house where
together they had kindled their hearth,--in the garden plot whose
disorder and ruin were eloquent of her broken faith.

She was moving away swiftly, with the light step he remembered. Holton
gained her side in a long