im, first astonished, and then almost frightened.

"You mean that Nick may have taken water?"

The three, as one man, shrugged their shoulders, and met her glance with
cold eyes.

"You fools!" cried the girl, springing to her feet. "He'd rather die!"

Joe Rix leaned forward, and to emphasize his point he stabbed one dirty
forefinger into the fat palm of his other hand.

"You just start thinkin' back," he said solemnly, "and you'll remember
that Donnegan has done some pretty slick things."

Lester added with a touch of contempt: "Like shootin' down Landis one
day and then sittin' down and havin' a nice long chat with you the next.
I dunno how he does it."

"That hunch of yours," said the girl fiercely, "ought to be roped and
branded--lie! Lester, don't look at me like that. And if you think Nick
has lost his grip on things you're dead wrong. Step light, Lester--and
the rest of you. Or Nick may hear you walk--and think."

She flung out of the room and raced up the stairs to Lord Nick's room.
There was an interval without response after her first knock. But when
she rapped again he called out to know who was there. At her answer she
heard his heavy stride cross the room, and the door opened slowly. His
face, as she looked up to it, was so changed that she hardly knew him.
His hair was unkempt, on end, where he had sat with his fingers thrust
into it, buried in thought. And the marks of his palms were red upon his
forehead.

"Nick," she whispered, frightened, "what is it?"

He looked down half fiercely, half sadly at her. And though his lips
parted they closed again before he spoke. Fear jumped coldly in Nelly
Lebrun.

"Did Donnegan--" she pleaded, white-faced. "Did he--"

"Did he bluff me out?" finished Nick. "No, he didn't. That's what
everybody'll say. I know it, don't I? And that's why I'm staying here by
myself, because the first fool that looks at me with a question in his
face, why--I'll break him in two."

She pressed close to him, more frightened than before. That Lord Nick
should have been driven to defend himself with words was almost too much
for credence.

"You know I don't believe it, Nick? You know that I'm not doubting you?"

But he brushed her hands roughly away.

"You want to know what it's all about? Then go over to--well, to
Milligan's. Donnegan will be there. He'll explain things to you, I
guess. He wants to see you. And maybe I'll come over later and join
you."

Seeing Lord Nick b