joes and were the whole thing for three-quarters of
an hour! Well, I'm glad to meet you, Doctor. Let us have a good song or
two together after business."

Russell unconsciously felt for the cravat which was not round his soiled
and frayed collar; he buttoned his wreck of a frock coat. "Yes, we
will," he began, but his voice stuck in his throat as the captain's
rough grasp gripped his arm.

"I guess not," said the captain; "business first, young feller!"

Russell shook off the hand, muttering something too low for Robbins'
ear; but Robbins sidled nearer to him, so near that he was able to
exchange a single glance and to see Russell's lips form the words,
"Watch Orr!" They understood each other.

"Weren't you from Ann Arbor yourself, Captain?" said Robbins, grabbing
at any straw of peace.

"I've been too poor ever since the war to remember whether I ever had a
college education or not," retorted the captain with a sneer. "I belong
to the people now; their cause is my cause. Where do _you_ belong? We've
tended your folks when you were sick, and helped you lay by your crops,
and driven the mortgage sharks off your stuff. Say, what are you doing
now? Are you monkeying around to turn traitor or coward, or what's the
matter?"

"We're all right, Captain," answered Russell, the western burr on his
tongue as soft and leisurely as ever, and no hint of excitement in his
manner; "but I see no harm in letting Mr. Wallace answer our questions
before we fly off the handle." So saying, before the captain realized
his purpose he edged through the crowd to Wallace's side. Robbins
followed him; and the eyes of all the others turned to the three
menacing and eager.

"All I ask is to answer questions and to make my proposition to you,"
said Wallace, his fearless young eyes running round the circle. "If you
don't like it you can refuse and send me home--to make other
arrangements."

"No, we ain't going to send you home," said Orr. It was the first time
that he had spoken. Wallace flashed a keen glance at him and spoke his
next words directly to him. "But I'm sure you won't want to do it. You
see, I'm your last chance and you _have_ to examine it!"

They had not expected such an answer. A little vibration ran like a wave
over the gaunt, ferociously attentive faces. Wallace's eyes were fixed
on Orr's face, which did not change. Orr's hand was in the breast of his
ragged waistcoat.

"You people have certainly had the devil's own tim