“Why--why--he’d have to let us go.” “Sooner or later,” said Peewee. “Fust he’d take you to the jail and lock you up--disorderly persons or some sich charge. Drinkin’ and carousin’ in my hotel!... Course he’ll have to let you go--sometime. Maybe after the jedge gives you thirty days in the calaboose.” “Um!... I think I comprehend,” said Evan, slowly. “I--In fact, I am sure I comprehend.... Sheriff Jenney did not originate this plan, I am sure.... Nor yourself. It required a certain modicum of intelligence.” “’Tain’t no matter who thought it up--it’s thought,” said Peewee, “and when the town of Gibeon comes to know all the facts--why, I don’t figger you two’ll be in a position to do nobody much harm.... Folks hain’t apt to believe you like you was the Bible. Kind of hidebound, them Gibeon people. Sh’u’dn’t be s’prised if they give you a ride out of town on a rail.” “Nobody would believe it. We would tell everyone how we came to be here.” This from Carmel. “We’re willin’ to take that chance,” grinned Peewee. “Seems like a certain party’s got a grudge ag’in’ you, miss, and he allus pays off his grudges.” “As he paid off Sheriff Churchill,” said Carmel. “Killin’,” said Peewee, sententiously, “is quick. This here’ll last you a lifetime. You’ll allus be knowed as the gal that was arrested with a man in the Lakeside Hotel....” He turned on his heel and walked to the door; there he paused to grin at them maliciously before he disappeared, locking the door after him with elaborate care. “They--nobody would believe,” said Carmel. “I am afraid, indeed, I may say I am certain, everybody would believe,” said Evan. “I have seen the reactions of Gibeon to affairs of this sort. Gibeon loves to believe the worst.” “Then----” “We would have to go away,” said Evan, gravely. “But--but the story would follow us.” “Such stories always follow.” Carmel studied his face. It was Evan Pell’s face, but for the first time she saw how different it was from the pedant’s face, the schoolmaster’s face, he had worn when first she met him. The spectacles were gone; the dissatisfied, supercilious expression was gone, and, in its place, she perceived something stronger, infinitely more desirable. She saw strength, courage, sympathy, understanding. She saw what gave her hope even in this, her blackest hour. If the worst came to the worst she had found a man upon whom to rely, a man who would stand by her to the end and uphold her and protect her and love her.