Carmel experienced a wave of sympathy. She hoped he would never discover the cause of the phenomenon, and fancied it quite likely he would never comprehend it. Mingled with her sympathy was a sense of guilt. She reviewed her conduct toward Evan Pell and could discover no action on her part which justified a feeling of guilt, yet it persisted. This queer, pedantic, crackling man was attracted to her, was, perhaps, on the verge of falling in love with her.... He was coming to life! She paused to wonder what sort of man he would be if he really came to life; if he sloughed off his shell of pedantry and stood disclosed without disguise. Perhaps it would be good for him to fall in love, no matter how vainly. It might be unpleasant for both of them, but, she determined, if he did find out what ailed him, she would be patient and gentle with him and see to it the hurt she would inflict should be as slight as she could make it.... It is to be noted her mind was already made up. Evan had no chance whatever. Already she had refused him, kindly, gently, but firmly.... It was upsetting. “Probably,” she said, with an artificial laugh, “it is something you have eaten.” “I have made no alteration in my diet,” he said, and then, with the air of one who wrenches himself away from an engrossing subject, “There seems to be an unusual supply of liquor in Gibeon to-day.” “What do you mean?” “I’ve noted a dozen men on the street this morning who are indicative of the fact.” “Where do they get it?” As she turned to ask the question, she saw his face change, saw a glint of determination in his really fine eyes; saw his chin jut forward and the muscles just under his jaw bunch into little white knots. “I don’t know,” he said, “but I’m going to find out.” Here was a new man, a man she had not seen. This new man was as revealing as that indomitable man she had seen fighting a futile fight with Deputy Jenney. “If I can find out who dispenses liquor in town,” he said, “that will be a step toward discovering where the dispensers get it. It will be climbing the first round of the ladder.” For an instant she was about to tell him what she had discovered, but it was vanity which stopped her. It was her discovery, her “beat,” and she wanted to surprise everybody with it. “Whose business is it to stop this liquor traffic?” she asked. “First, it is the business of the law-enforcement officials of this county--the sheriff and his subordinates. This is a prohibition state and has been for years. Second, it is the business of Federal enforcement officials.” “Who, doubtless, are few and far between in this region.” “Yes. To put a stop to the thing by legal means, we must have the co-operation of the sheriff.” “And there is no sheriff,” said Carmel. “Er--removed by the liquor interests for cause,” said Evan, dryly. “If I am a judge of appearances, the sheriff’s office as it is now constituted is not likely to give the rum smugglers a maximum of uneasiness.”