. Oliver said, "tell those mad women
that I'm not a bandit."

"We know that already," Tish observed.

"And untie my hands. My shoulders are about broken."

But Mr. Bell only looked at him coldly. "I can't interfere with these
ladies," he said. "They're friends of mine. If they think you are better
tied, it's their business. They did it."

"At least," Mr. Oliver said savagely, "you can tell them who I am, can't
you?"

"As to that," Mr. Bell returned, "I can only tell them what you say you
are. You must remember that I know nothing about you. Helen knows much
more than I do."

"Jim," cried the girl, "surely you are going to tell these women that we
are not highway robbers. Tell them the truth. Tell them I am not a
highway robber. Tell them that these men are not my accomplices, that I
never saw them before."

"You must remember," he replied in an icy tone, "that I no longer know
your friends. It is some days since you and I parted company. And you
must admit that one of them is a friend of yours--as well as I can
judge, a very close friend."

She was almost in tears, but she persisted. "At least," she said, "you
can tell them that I did not rob that woman on the pass. They are going
to lead us in to Many Glaciers, and--Jim, you won't let them, will you?
I'll die of shame."

But he was totally unmoved. As Aggie said afterward, no one would have
thought that, but a day or two before, he had been heartbroken because
she was in love with someone else.

"As to that," he said, "it is questionable, according to Mrs.
Ostermaier, that nothing was taken from you, and that as soon as the
attack was over you basely deserted her and followed the bandits. A full
description of you, which I was able to correct in one or two trifling
details, is now in the hands of the park police."

She stared at him with fury in her eyes. "I hope you will never speak to
me again," she cried.

"You said that the last time I saw you, Helen. If you will think, you
will remember that you addressed me first just now."

She stamped her foot.

"Of course," he said politely, "you can see my position. You maintain
and possibly believe that these--er--acquaintances of yours"--he
indicated the men--"are not members of the moving-picture outfit. Also
that your being with them is of an accidental nature. But, on the other
hand--"

She put her fingers in her ears and turned her back on him.

"On the other hand," he went on calmly, "I have the w