plan, to himself, but he
must risk that. It mattered little what happened to him if he could only
save his David, his dear, kind big brother, who would never have thought
of doing wrong had it not been for those wicked men who had led him
astray. Patsy feared those men mightily. He knew their anger would be
terrible should they discover how their plan had been frustrated. They
might even kill him if they found him out, but he hoped they need not
know. He would confess to David alone at supper time that evening; no
matter how angry, David would not hurt his little brother. Of that Patsy
was certain. Anyway, whatever the risk, he must take it to save David
and to save the lady.

The early winter twilight was closing in when Patsy reached his home
again and dragged himself up the stairs to the one room which he and
David occupied. He was almost exhausted and his breath came in short,
sharp gasps which cut him like knives. He would have liked to crawl into
his bed, close his eyes and never open them again, he was so tired. But
he must not give in yet; his task was but half accomplished. David must
be told of what he had done, and at that thought a spasm of fear
contracted his heart. Shivering, he drew a chair near the stove and
waited with closed eyes and pain-drawn face for the sound of David's
foot upon the stairs.

Twilight passed and darkness filled the little room, still David did not
come. Patsy lighted the lamp upon the table, wondering anxiously why his
brother was so late. He put more coals upon the fire, which was burning
low, and made the tea for David's supper. He set out the loaf of bread,
the cold meat, the cheese, upon the table, then resumed his chair and
his eager listening for footsteps that were so long in coming. It seemed
to Patsy he had waited for hours and hours, and suddenly his heart
stopped beating and his eyes distended in terror as a thought occurred
to him. Suppose David did not come at all! What, what would happen then?
But there, that was David's step and all would be well now. The child
looked up eagerly as his brother entered the room, then, nearly cried
aloud in his bitter disappointment. David was not alone. One of the gang
was with him, and this was a contingency for which Patsy had made no
allowance. What was he to do now? How could he tell his brother, how
warn him, in the presence of that dreadful man?

For the first time in his life David was so preoccupied that he paid no
heed to