oing out of town
to-day on a job--"

He paused. He turned back to the window.

"That's why I spoke, because--because I may be away a very long time."

She controlled herself.

"How long, Jim?"

"God knows."

"Where? West?"

He shook his head.

"Up the state. It's just as well now. I've got to go. I ought to be
getting ready."

She arose. She spoke wistfully.

"Then good-by, Jim. And you'll try to understand? Maybe you'll come to
see me just the same when you get back?"

He swallowed hard, forcing back his craving for abandonment, for
revelation.

"When I get back," he said.

CHAPTER II

IT OPENS NORA'S EYES

Garth waited at the end of the bridge above Garrison. At eight o'clock
it was dark, but the river, glass-like between the rugged hills,
retained a pallid light. At a short distance two men smoked and chatted.
They had withdrawn themselves in response to Garth's moodiness. He
fancied they discussed him as one already dead.

A whistle shrieked. The hills rumbled. Flinging their cigars in the
water, the men rejoined Garth. He slipped the mask from his pocket, and
secreted his features behind its gray protection.

The train dashed across the bridge, sparks grinding from its wheels.
When it stopped, panting sullenly, the two men sprang aboard.

Garth flattened himself against the side of the car and watched them
reappear, leading a third who wore a grey mask above a plain brown suit.
He heard a croaking, unnatural voice issue from behind the mask.

"Didn't look for you so soon, friends."

Excitement drove the melancholy from Garth's brain. The undertaking had
begun reassuringly. Simmons had no suspicion that he was in the hands of
the police. Garth noticed also as he entered the car that the
passengers were not aware of the substitution. He resented the
repugnance in the glances they turned on the mask. Simmons' attitude
toward life became comprehensible. But, as the journey extended itself
interminably, Garth grew restless. He realized he was in the position of
a man entering a cavern without a light. He must feel his way step by
step. He must walk blindly toward innumerable and fatal pitfalls.

At last the train paused for the change from locomotive to electric
motor. Although he knew that normally no passengers would board it at
this place, he gazed anxiously from the window. A man stood close to the
track with the evident intention of entering the train. Garth saw him
elude a bra