ly. Anyway, I'll do what I can for you,
and now about that other car-load and the cattle?"

Alton brought his hand down crashing on the table. "The cattle? Oh,
get out and come back to-morrow or next month, when I feel less like
killing somebody!"

The other man appeared quite willing to accept his dismissal, and Alton
vacantly noticed that a black stream of ink was trickling across the
table. Mechanically he dabbled his handkerchief in it and then flung
it and the ink-vessel into the grate, after which he sat still with a
black stain upon the cheek that rested on his fist.

"The plucky little soul--and they've turned her out," he said. "Lord,
but somebody has got to pay for this!"

He did not move for at least ten minutes, while the clamour of the city
vibrated through the silent room, and when his first anger passed away
became sensible of a great pity for the girl who had risked so much for
him. It appeared only too probable that because of the modicum of
truth it was founded on the lie would stick to both of them, and now
when it was too late Alton regretted his folly. He had been fully
justified in kicking Cartier out of his rooms, but he knew that
everything that is legitimate is not advisable, and groaned as he saw
what the story must cost the defenceless girl who had a living to earn
and her father to maintain. There was so far as he could see no way
out of the difficulty yet--and the one that concerned himself was
almost as formidable, for he knew Alice Deringham's pride, and the
damning fact remained that he could not deny the whole story.

He had flung himself back wearily in his chair when there was a step in
the passage and a young man came in. He walked straight forward, and
stood with one hand on Alton's table looking down on him with wonder
and anger in his face. His eyes were unusually bright, and there was a
great contusion on his forehead.

"Jack," said Alton simply. "Well, sit down there, and I'll try to talk
to you. This is a devlish mess I've got into. Only heard about it ten
minutes ago."

Jack Townshead did not move at all. "I'll stand in the meantime." he
said harshly. "Unfortunately there are more concerned than you."

"Yes," said Alton wearily. "Don't rub it in. I know. Who was it told
you?"

"That's beyond the question," said the lad. "Still, last night one of
our men who'd been down here came in and was telling the story in the
boys' sleeping-shed. I knocked hi