"What can I do to thank you?" she asked, the tears streaming again from her eyes. "Nothing," I said, after a moment of hesitation. For a second I had thought of asking one pure kiss, on the lips. I knew, before the next second had passed that she would refuse it, though her husband's freedom depended on the issue. "Nothing," I repeated. As she rose and held out her hands to me in the attitude of parting, I affected not to see the movement. "Good-by," I said, huskily. "No; say no more. Good-by." At the door to which I allowed her to go alone, she had an instant of doubt. "You would not be so cruel as to deceive me?" she said, trembling. I waved my hand in a negative, but I could not trust myself to speak. I was afraid, terribly afraid, that if she did not go at once I should clasp her, willing or unwilling, in my arms, and crush her mouth with my own. And that I would not have done for the world. * * * * * As early the following morning as I could expect to find Harvey Hume in his office I was there. Having nothing whatever to do, as usual, he drew me into a private room, closed the door and asked to what he was indebted for a call at that hour. "I want to consult you on a legal matter," I said, gravely. "Now, do not get excited, for you will need all your wits. Listen!" I told him that a man was lying in jail under the charge of having raised the figures on a check of mine; that it was my desire that the man should go free; and that I wanted him to tell me how to accomplish that result. "He is unjustly accused?" he said, interrogatively. "Whether he is or not doesn't matter. I want him set at liberty." Hume thought deeply for some moments. "Did you give him the original check?" he asked. "Yes." "Then, of course, you remember the figures it bore at that time." "I wouldn't like to swear to them," I said, evasively. "They can't convict him unless you do, if he is well defended." "But," I said, "I don't want him tried at all. I want him released now. Isn't there some way to accomplish that?" Harvey thought a little longer and finally said he would arrange it. He was to go at once to the jail and unveil his scheme to "Edgerly," and afterwards turn up about noon at the district attorney's office. As the clocks were striking twelve I met Daly on the steps of the courthouse. He complimented me on my promptness, with a keen look that showed he scented his prey. As we were entering the room of the dispenser of justice, Hume came along and addressed me. "I say, Camran," he remarked, careful that Daly should hear every word, "I am engaged to appear for a poor chap who is up for raising a check of yours. I was just going in to see the district attorney. I must say, the man seems as innocent of wrong as any fellow I ever met." "Will you kindly introduce me to this gentleman?" asked Daly of me.