known to
violate the law, sir."

"Oh, no one would suspect you of that, Mr. McElwin. We all know that
you never break the law, but we don't know that you are not sometimes
aware that the law is going to be broken. Good morning."

"Wait a moment, sir. Do you mean to tell me that I am suspected of
complicity in this infamous outrage?"

"No, I don't mean to tell you that. Neither do I mean to say that you
would be wrong in doing so. You have had cause. Lyman's stubbornness
is quite enough to rasp a saint. I couldn't stand it; and between me
and you, I wish they had lashed him till he would have craved the
privilege of going away."

"Wait just one more moment, Mr. Caruthers. Is what you have told me in
reality suspected by the people or did you evolve it out of your own
richness of observation?"

Caruthers bowed his head under the outpour of this compliment. "It is
not public talk," he admitted.

"Ah, thank you. Drop in at the bank some time and see me, sir. Good
morning."

* * * * *

Warren stepped out of the room, merely nodding to McElwin as he
passed. Lyman got up, handed McElwin a chair, and without speaking,
sat down again. McElwin stood with his hands on the back of the chair,
looking at Lyman, and evidently embarrassed as to what he ought to
say. "Beautiful morning," said Lyman, seeing his embarrassment and
feeling that it was his duty as host to help him out of it.

"Yes, very bright after the rain."

"That's a fact; it did rain last night."

"Mr. Lyman, I heard something this morning that has grieved me very
much."

"Oh, about the White Caps. Sit down, won't you?"

McElwin sat down. "Yes, the White Caps." He was silent for a moment
and then he continued: "The intercourse between you and me has been
far from friendly. I do not deny that I should like to see you leave
this place, never to return; I acknowledge that I would bribe you to
go, but I would not give countenance to a mob that would force you to
leave."

Lyman looked at him with a cool smile. "Do you mean to tell me, Mr.
McElwin, that Sawyer did not speak to you of his intention to take me
out as if I were a thief or a wife-beater--"

"Stop, sir!" McElwin commanded, holding up his hand. "I forbid you
to--"

"Forbid is rather a strong word. Don't you think that request would be
better?"

"Well," said McElwin, softening, "we will say request. As I tell you,
your presence in this community is distasteful