the corridor door and turned on the electric light. "Mr. Donnelly," said he, facing the now nervous-looking Irishman, "you know as well as I that no woman on earth is liable for the liquor bills of any man, even a relative. What brought you here?" "Me legs, I s'pose, an' me own affairs. What's it to you, anyhow?" But Donnelly was shifting rather unsteadily on those same legs and twisting his bill in his hands. "This, to begin with," said Forrest, very coolly, though his blood was boiling, and the impulse to floor the fellow was strong within him. "An old fellow campaigner of mine, Sergeant McGrath, has told me----" but there was no need to go further. Donnelly's tone and manner underwent instant change. "Is this Lieutenant Forrest?" "It is Lieutenant Forrest; and I have this to say to you here and now. You came here to bring shame and distress on an honest girl,--you, an old soldier and an Irishman,--the first soldier and the first Irishman I ever knew to be guilty of so low and contemptible a piece of persecution. When I write to Major Cranston of this, and when I tell McGrath----" "Don't be hard on me, lieutenant. I meant no harm to the lady at all. Sure the bill's been unpaid ever since October. I tuk it to the house--I thought mebbe she could inflooence Mart, but I'd never have come here wid it at all, sorr, but--but----" And his troubled gaze wandered now to where Elmendorf stood biting his nails and watching a chance to speak. "But what, Donnelly? Who put you up to such a dirty piece of business?" "Permit me. Nothing dirty was intended for a minute, if I may be allowed to speak," said Elmendorf, as he came forward. "As a friend of all parties concerned, for I know Mr. Wallen well and have remarked his bibulous propensities with distress, I merely suggested to Mr. Donnelly that perhaps if he could get Miss Wallen's ear he might possibly induce her to exercise a restraining influence upon her brother. I thought it best that she should know how and where he was spending so much money _in esse_ as well as money _in posse_. That Mr. Donnelly should have misconstrued my well-meant words into----" "Oh, sure ye told me to show this bill when everybody could see it, sorr, and that would take the starch out av her." "Settle it between you, gentlemen," said Mr. Forrest, turning contemptuously away. "I have heard more than enough." "I will see you about this later this evening," said Elmendorf, as the lieutenant disappeared within the sanctum, slamming the door after him and vouchsafing no answer.