ist temptation, or might urge him to
forego some premeditated evil; whatever it was that prompted him to seek
his side, he obeyed it, and in a moment stood in the door of Wilkins'
chamber. The light of the night-lamp revealed the form of the head clerk
lying stretched upon his bed, sound asleep, and breathing heavily; one
of his strong arms encircled Guly, and his broad breast pillowed the
boy's head.

Arthur looked at them earnestly, fearless of their waking, for he had
seen (what none of the rest observed) Quirk sprinkle into Wilkins' wine,
as also into Jeff's, a few grains of a drug, intended to make their
slumbers deep; and Guly, he knew, slept an invalid's sleep, heavy from
weakness and exhaustion. After gazing at them for awhile, Arthur stepped
to the table, and extinguished the lamp, then drew the door close after
him, and groped his way back up stairs. Again he wrapped the cloak about
him, drew his cap over his brows, and went down into the court. He
paused once more, as he opened the alley-door with his pass-key, and
turned his eyes back toward the spot he was leaving. The darkness was
impenetrable, but he gazed earnestly back as if all were distinctly
visible, then closed the door behind him, and went shudderingly forth
into the tempest. He had crossed that threshold for the last time
bearing in his breast a crimeless-soul, and he felt it instinctively.

Gaining the street, he hurried on till he had reached the saloon where
he had seen Quirk and Clinton the night after the lost bank deposit. He
hastily inquired of Quibbles if either of his friends were there, and on
being informed that Quirk had just come in, he desired to be shown to
his presence, and found him in the same room they had occupied before,
smoking and drinking there by himself.

"Come at last, eh, Pratt? All snug?"

"All asleep--Jeff in my room, as you suggested."

"Good! Now for Clint."

"But what was the use of all these preliminaries at the store? I
scarcely understand."

"Oh, you're a little springy as yet; after to-night you'll understand
more about these things. Clinton will explain everything when we get
there. Now, if you're ready, come along."

They went out together, Arthur first swallowing several glasses of wine,
for the purpose, as he said, of keeping his spirits up.

The walk to Clinton's house was a long one, and on such a fierce night
as this, particularly disagreeable; swollen gutters, slipping pavements,
and deluged