reatening figure of Fenton, and
the shrinking one of the nurse; upon the stairs, coming slowly down, her
loose dressing-gown held about her by one slim hand, was Mary Burton.
She had reached the foot of the stairs before the broken-nosed man saw
her; then he whirled about, and his hands gripped her delicate throat.

Scanlon's revolver arose to a deadly level, but before he could fire,
Ashton-Kirk was seen to leap into the hall like a panther. There was a
short, sharp blow, with all the power of the lithe body behind it;
Fenton's grasp relaxed and he fell to the floor. The watchers saw Mary
totter, and noted Ashton-Kirk catch her in his arms, at the same time
gesturing to the nurse to bring a restorative. The nurse had vanished,
and Ashton-Kirk was placing the sick girl upon a hall lounge when Nora
and Scanlon hurried from the window and around to the door.

This stood wide open, and they encountered Fuller and the pawnbroker,
Quigley, as they entered. In the hall they saw Fenton rising sullenly to
his feet, one hand feeling at his jaw; Ashton-Kirk was bending over the
white, fragile creature upon the lounge.

"There she is," said Scanlon, pointing to Mary and looking at Quigley.
"There she is. Pile it all on her shoulders. She's strong and can stand
it. Say your say, and then beat it; for by George, I won't be able to
stand the sight of you afterward."

Quigley looked at the speaker in surprise; then his puffy eyes went to
Mary with a deepening of their astonishment, and finally to Ashton-Kirk.

"Is this the lady you had in mind?" said he. "If so you have made a
mistake. She is not the person who sold me the diamonds."

Nora Cavanaugh gave a gasping sort of cry and stood staring at the
pawnbroker, her wide eyes full of joy--of bewilderment. At that moment a
set of hangings were pushed aside and the nurse came into the hall, a
glass in her hand. Silently Ashton-Kirk touched Quigley upon the arm,
and pointed to the nurse. The man started, and then regarded her
intently.

"Yes," said he. "Yes! That is the woman! I can take my oath on that in
any court in the land."

The woman stood motionless for a moment; she drew in a long breath; the
glass fell to the floor and smashed. Then she disappeared once more
through the door by which she entered.

"Fuller," said Ashton-Kirk. But he had no need to speak, for that brisk
young man was already after her. Dazed, Bat Scanlon looked about. Nora
was upon her knees beside the