s general at the end of a hard week's campaign.

He turned away from her and went out of the room. At the foot of the
stairs he passed in silence Arsdale and the nurse. He turned back.

"Sandy! Sandy! Where are you?"

The dog came scrambling over the smooth floor with a joyous yelp. He
picked him up and passing out the door went down the street. The few
remaining dollars he had left burned in his pocket. He tossed them
into the first sewer. He was now free--free to begin clean handed.

A little farther along he came to a gang of men at work upon the
excavation for a new house. He needed money for food and a night's
lodging. He went to the foreman.

"Want an extra hand?"

"Wot th' devil ye 're givin' us?"

"I 'm in earnest. I have n't a cent. I need work. Try me."

The burly foreman looked him over with a grin. Then as though he saw a
good joke in it, he gave him a shovel and sent him into the cellar.

Donaldson removed his coat and rolling up his sleeves took his place
beside the others. Sandy found a comfortable nest in the discarded
garment and settled down contentedly.

CHAPTER XXVIII

_The Seventh Noon_

When Arsdale with the nurse at his heels rushed up-stairs, he found his
sister before the mirror combing her hair. There was nothing
hysterical about her, but her white calmness in itself was ominous.

"What is it, Elaine?" he panted, "has Donaldson gone mad?"

"No," she answered, "I should say that he is quite sane now."

"But what the deuce was the trouble with him? He looked as though he
had lost his senses."

"Perhaps he has just found them."

The nurse interrupted him, in an aside,

"I would n't agitate her further." To the girl, she said, "Don't you
think you had better lie down for a little, Miss Arsdale?"

"Please don't worry about me," she replied calmly, "I am going to
change my dress and then I shall come down-stairs. I wish you would go
to Marie--both of you. It is she who needs attention."

"But--" broke in Arsdale.

"There's a good boy. Do what you can to make her comfortable. I will
join you in a few minutes."

Uncomprehending, Arsdale reluctantly led the way out. She closed the
door behind them and turned to her mirror again.

"Well," demanded her reflection, "what are you going to do now?"

"Do? I shall go on as I have always done."

"Shall you?"

"Why not? There is Ben. Perhaps we shall go out into the country to
live--perhaps we shal