yed, each man feeling that the
welfare of millions depended upon the outcome of this duel
of the muscles."
(164-165.)]

Ensal did what he could to staunch the flow of blood. He then tried to
think. He did not care to expose Earl to the fury of a white mob by
revealing the conspiracy. He preferred to heal the racial sore himself
without calling a doctor, whose remedy might be worse than the disease.
But if he kept Earl's illness secret and Earl died, he was himself
liable to be arrested on the charge of murder. He concluded, however, to
take the risk of handling the matter himself. He would have Earl nursed
back to health and then demand that he leave Almaville on the ground
that he was an unsafe leader for the people under existing conditions.
He now felt the need of a confederate and his mind ran to Tiara, who was
yet living in practical seclusion.

"By the way," said he to himself, "she lives near the river."

Taking possession of a boat which he found moored near by, Ensal put
Earl into it and rowed until he was opposite Tiara's house. After
considerable effort he succeeded in arousing the inmates.

Tiara attired herself and came out upon the back porch and listened to
Ensal's story. She dared not look him in the face too often. Her eyes
told too plainly of her suppressed love.

As humble as was Ensal's opinion of himself he was compelled to admit
that the net result of this short interview was a decided conviction
that Tiara was not altogether indifferent to him, that he held no mean
place in her regard. But he was the more mystified as to why she had so
persistently refused to allow him to call.

But all this is aside. Tiara accepted charge of Earl and in her faithful
hands we leave him for the present.

CHAPTER XXIV.

_Out of Joint With His Times._

"Jedge, I'd lack to mek' er few dimes. Ken I peddle limonade nigh de
co't 'ouse do', sah, yer honah?"

The judge looked with a kindly eye upon the rather small, aged Negro,
who made the above request. The look of the man was so appealing and his
voice so sad of tone that the judge was moved to grant the request.

"Thank 'ee, jedge, thank 'ee," said the Negro, bowing low, his face and
whole frame testifying to his immense joy at being allowed to sell
lemonade at the court house door.

"His family must be starving," thought the judge, as he resumed his walk
to the court house, haunte