hey were sober enough in another minute.

Miss Falkland got up then and walked forward, looking just the way her
father used to do. She spoke to Starlight first.

'I have never seen you before, but I have often heard of you, Captain
Starlight, if you will allow me to address you by that title. Believe
me when I say that by your conduct to-night you have won our deepest
gratitude--more than that, our respect and regard. Whatever may be your
future career, whatever the fate that your wild life may end in, always
believe there are those who will think of you, pray for you, rejoice
in your escapes, and sorrow sincerely for your doom. I can answer for
myself, and I am sure for my cousins also.'

Here the Misses Whitman said--

'Yes, indeed, we will--to our life's end.'

Then she turned to Jim, who still stood there looking at her with his
big gray eyes, that had got ever so much darker lately.

'You, poor old Jim,' she said, and she took hold of his brown hand and
held it in her own, 'I am more sorry than I can tell to hear all I have
done about you and Dick too. This is the second time you have saved me,
and I am not the girl to forget it, if I could only show my gratitude.
Is there any way?'

'There's Jeanie,' just them two words he said.

'Your wife? Oh yes, I heard about her,' looking at him so kind and
gentle-like. 'I saw it all in the papers. She's in Melbourne, isn't she?
What is her address?'

'Esplanade Hotel, St. Kilda,' says Jim, taking a small bit of a letter
out of his pocket.

'Very well, Jim, I have a friend who lives near it. She will find her
out, and do all for her that can be done. But why don't you--why don't
all of you contrive to get away somehow from this hateful life, and not
bring ruin and destruction on the heads of all who love you? Say you
will try for their sake--for my sake.'

'It's too late, Miss Falkland,' I said. 'We're all thankful to you for
the way you've spoken. Jim and I would be proud to shed our blood for
you any time, or Mr. Falkland either. We'll do what we can, but we'll
have to fight it out to the end now, and take our chance of the bullet
coming before the rope. Good-night, Miss Falkland, and good luck to you
always.'

She shook hands heartily with me and Jim, but when she came to Starlight
he raised her hand quite respectful like and just touched it with his
lips. Then he bowed low to them all and walked slowly out.

When we got to the public-house, which wasn't f