the youthful Mayor's face and walked out with her head
high.

"One for his nobs!" laughed Ben Todd. "And, damn it!--you cold-blooded
alligator!--she served you rightly."

CHAPTER IV

Wayward Langford

While the foregoing was taking place in Pederstone's smithy at
Vernock, a scene of a different nature was being enacted in the
Governor's private office at Ukalla Prison.

Phil Ralston, somewhat refreshed from a scrubbing, a good sleep and
two prison meals, had just been ushered into the presence of the man
who held power almost of life and death over every unfortunate
confined there.

Phil expected no mercy. His feelings were blunted by what he had
already gone through, so the worst that might happen now did not worry
him; for, when hope of relief entirely goes, what one has to face
loses most of its terrors.

The well-fed, strong-jawed governor leaned over his desk and looked at
his prisoner.

"Ay, Ralston! So you were a naughty boy and ran away!"

The young fellow did not reply.

"Look up, man! I'm not going to eat you."

Ralston's eyes met his calmly.

"Why did you run away?"

"Because my time was up, sir!"

"Of course it was! Hang it all!--that's why I can't understand your
behaviour."

The governor smiled in a manner that was meant to be reassuring--for,
after all, he knew he had exceeded his limit and, if it were known, he
might have difficulty in squaring himself.

"But you told me, sir, that I had still two weeks to serve."

"What? I told you that? Why, man, you're crazy. Wake up! You foolish
fellow, don't you know that the moment you made off, your discharge
papers were lying on my desk all ready?"

"And you _didn't_ say I had two more weeks to serve?"

"No, damn it, no! How could I? Why, Johnston there had already been
sent to the storage room for your belongings.

"Isn't that so, Johnston?"

"Yes, sir!" nodded the chief jailer emphatically.

"Didn't I tell you number three hundred and sixteen was due out that
day?"

"Yes, sir! Remember distinctly, sir."

Phil's lip curled contemptuously, and, although he was in no mood for
arguing under such conditions, he could not resist one more query.

"Why then did they go after me and bring me back, sir?"

"Why did they! Why do you think, you young fool? Do you imagine
breaking out is the way to leave Ukalla Jail? What kind of an
institution do you think we are running here? Do you fancy we are
going to stand still to that kind