he didn't let me alone. I'll answer your question
straight," and she looked him in the eye, "I never saw that letter
before, and I don't know anything about it. Is that all?"

"To go back again, Rose," resumed Dan patiently, "not many girls would
have the strength to resist a temptation like that, as you did. But this
is a very different case. I need your help, but it isn't for myself that
I'm trying to trace that letter. If it weren't a matter of actual need I
shouldn't trouble you--be sure of that."

"I always thought you were on the square, but you're asking me to do
something you wouldn't do yourself. And I've told you again that I don't
know anything about that letter; I never saw it before."

She tapped the edge of the desk to hide the trembling of her fingers.
The tears shone suddenly in her blue eyes.

Dan frowned, but the frown was not for Rose. She had already betrayed
herself; he was confident from her manner that she knew. The prompt
denial of any knowledge of the fateful sheet of paper for which he had
hoped all night had not been forthcoming. But mere assumptions would not
serve him; he had walked in darkness too long not to crave the full
light. The pathos of this girl's loyalty had touched him; her chance in
life had been the slightest, she had been wayward and had erred deeply,
and yet there were fastnesses of honor in her soul that remained
unassailable.

Her agitation distressed him; he had never seen her like this; he missed
the little affectations and the droll retorts that had always amused
him. She was no longer the imperturbable and ready young woman whose
unwearying sunniness and amazing intuitions had so often helped him
through perplexities.

"As a matter of your own honor, Rose, you wouldn't tell me. But if the
honor of some one else--"

She shook her head slowly, and he paused.

"No," she said. "I'm only a poor little devil of a stenog and I've been
clear down,--you know that,--but I won't do it. I turned down Thatcher's
ten thousand dollars, and I turned it down hard. The more important that
letter is, the less I know about it. I'll go into court and swear I
never saw or heard of it before. I don't know anything about it. If you
want me to quit, it's all right; it's all right, Mr. Harwood. You've
been mighty good to me and I hate to go; but I guess I'd better quit."

He did not speak until she was quite calm again. As a last resource he
must shatter her fine loyalty by an appeal