who had seen the movement, sprang quickly to
his feet. Laura, terror stricken, screamed loudly and threw herself
right in the line of fire.

"Don't shoot!" she pleaded hoarsely.

Madison kept his rival covered, but he did not shoot. There was an
uncertain expression in his face, as if he was wavering in his own mind
as to whether he would kill this man or not. Slowly his whole frame
relaxed. He lowered the pistol and quietly replaced it in his pocket,
much to the relief of Brockton, who, notwithstanding the danger that
confronted him, had stood his ground like a man. Turning to Laura, the
Westerner said slowly:

"Thank you. You said that just in time."

There was an awkward silence, broken only by the sound of Laura weeping
half hysterically. Finally Brockton, who had recovered his self-possession,
said:

"Well, you see, Madison--what I told you that time in Denver----"

John made another threatening gesture which brought him face to face
with the broker.

"Look out, Brockton," he said. "I don't want to talk to you----"

"All right," rejoined the broker, with a shrug of his shoulders.

Madison turned to Laura. Peremptorily he said:

"Now get that man out of here."

"John--I----" she protested cheerfully.

"Get him out!" he almost shouted. "Get him out before I lose my temper,
or they'll--or they'll take him out without his help!"

The girl laid a supplicating hand on the broker's arm.

"Go--go! Please go!" she pleaded.

"All right," he replied. "If that's the way you want it, I'm willing."

He turned and went into the inner room to get his hat and coat, while
John and Laura stood facing each other, without speaking. Brockton soon
reentered, and without a word moved in the direction of the door. The
others remained motionless. As the broker put his hand on the door,
Laura started forward. Turning to Madison, she pointed at the man who
was leaving.

"Before he goes," she cried, "I want to tell you how I learned to
despise him. John, I know you don't believe me, but it's true--it's
true. I don't love anyone in the world but just you. I know you don't
think that it can be explained--maybe there isn't any explanation. I
couldn't help it. I was so poor, and I had to live. He wouldn't let me
work. He's let me live only one way, and I was hungry. Do you know what
that means? I was hungry and didn't have clothes to keep me warm, and I
tried, oh, John! I tried so hard to do the other thing--the right
thing-