."

"I _have_ heard," Cavanaugh admitted. "I heard it at home from a
neighbor. Then I went to the Square to make sure, and--"

"I know. It's town talk, a delicious tidbit for women and loafers," John
sneered. "Well, well, it is done, Sam. It has happened, and that is all
there is to it."

"I hurried over to see you and talk with you," Cavanaugh went on. "I
don't know what step you want to take."

"I'll take none," John answered, grimly. "You don't think I want to kill
anybody, do you? She is his daughter, and he had her before I got her. I
tell you there is no fight in me, Sam. I can fight, as you know, when it
has to be done, but there is no call for it in this case. Knowing Tilly
as I know her, and now knowing my own plight as it has been made plain
to me since I brought her here, I would think any man a damned idiot
that would allow his daughter to marry me. God! God! No, never! Sam,
Sam, I never found fault with you before, but you ought to have told me.
By God! you ought to have opened my damned sightless eyes!"

"Don't! don't! my boy!" Cavanaugh cried, huskily. "You are breaking my
heart. I wanted you with me. I saw how you two loved one another, and I
thought I was acting right. I--I couldn't pull the bad conduct of others
between you and that sweet little girl. I am not satisfied to let it
rest as it is, either. You may not want to take any steps, but it is my
duty to try to do something."

"Something? What the hell could you or any one do?"

"Well, I'll tell you what struck me, my dear boy. I'm going up to
Cranston to-night and see how the land lies. I don't intend to rest idle
and know no more than I've picked up in the wild talk of men on the
streets up-town and a stupid negro cab-driver. This is a serious matter,
and I have a big duty to perform."

"It won't do any good," John groaned, softly, and he shook his head.
"I've been thinking it all over. I began to get my eyes open as soon as
we got here. I've been a fool--a boy, a blind boy, at that, and what has
happened to-day is not such a great surprise. You needn't go up there
and beg for me, Sam. Say what you will, I am not worthy of her--that's
the whole damned truth in a nutshell."

"Not worthy of her?" Cavanaugh protested. "How ridiculous, my boy!"

"No, I'm not. I don't know a man that is, but I'm sure that _I_ never
can be. Do you know that in meeting me and marrying me as she did that
sweet child never had a fair deal? Other girls not as go