hat she has discovered my whereabouts nothing less will
satisfy her than that I must stand my trial, and--go to the electric
chair. It is my purpose to stand my trial. It was for that reason,
when I recognized her this morning, before she even saw me, I
purposely thrust myself in her way. I intended that she should not
lack opportunity, and my reason--well, that doesn't much matter."

The girl nodded.

"I think I am glad of your decision," she said simply. "You see, when
you have established your innocence----"

"I fear that result is--doubtful."

The man's admission was quite frank. Nor was there even a suggestion
of regret in his voice. But Joan's heart gripped with alarm. The
thought of such a contingency had never occurred to her simple mind.
He had not committed murder. Then, of course, he was innocent. It had
all been made so simple. Now--now she was suddenly overwhelmed with a
new terror.

"You mean--you cannot prove--your innocence?" she cried incredulously.

"You forget I was the only man with him. I was the last person with
him. And--I fled when I should have stayed to--help. The circumstances
are terribly against me."

Joan's throat had suddenly parched. She struggled to speak, but no
sound came. She looked to Buck for help and the man ran to her side.

The gentle pressure of his protecting arm, as he rested one caressing
hand upon her shoulder, gave her the relief she needed.

"Oh, Buck, Buck! For the love of Heaven say something--do something,"
she appealed. "They will kill him for a crime--of which he is
innocent."

Suddenly the Padre's eyes glowed with a strange light of happiness.
The girl's appeal to Buck had been the one saving touch in the midst
of the cloud of tribulation overshadowing him. The daughter of his
best friend, the daughter of the man he was supposed to have done to
death, had given her verdict. She believed in his innocence. He sighed
with the depth of his thankfulness. He could now face whatever lay
before him with perfect equanimity.

But Buck had yet to play his part in the little drama so swiftly
working itself out. His part was far different to the passive attitude
of the other man. He had no tolerance for the possible sacrifice of an
innocent life at the demand of a crazy woman who had come so nearly
wrecking the life of the girl he loved. As Joan appealed to him his
eyes lit with a sudden fire of rebellion. And his answer came in a hot
rush.

"You think I'm goin' t