Dean Mercer could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. From a barred window some one had spoken his name. He approached it and peered forth. The window looked out on the rear of the jail lot. There stood Marcus Ellison. “Marcus!” gasped Dean. “Yes. Hist! don’t talk. We have work to do. I know all about it. There’s only one thing--escape!” “But they believe me guilty?” “Stop talking, I tell you,” persisted Marcus. “You are lost if you don’t escape before daylight.” Without fully dreaming of the weight his decision was to have on his whole future life, Dean Mercer hesitated before accepting the alternative held out to him by his friend. It was the crucial moment in his career. While he knew that Marcus Ellison was sincere in his determination to help him, he did not like the idea of running away under such circumstances as he must if he escaped from the jail. It seemed far worse to him than his flight from the reform school. “I--I do not believe I had better do it, Marcus,” he finally said. “Do what?” “Why, run away from here--break jail.” “Oh, fudge! it isn’t breaking jail in the real sense. You are innocent, you know.” “Then I need not fear the result if I stay.” “But you can’t prove your innocence at present. Remember you are leaving here just to get the evidence you need. I’ve got trace of Tim Downey and we can run him to earth. Once we’ve got him cornered the rest will be easy.” “But if I leave here in this way, everybody will feel sure that I am guilty. Marcus, I prefer to remain and fight it out.” “Whew! I didn’t know but you had more common sense,” replied the other, showing by his words and manner that he was disgusted by this flat refusal to accept his assistance. “Pardon me, Marcus. I know you mean all right. But I could never lift up my head again if I should do it. It seems so cowardly. I know I am already a fugitive, but I prefer not to try an escape from here in the way you suggest.” “It is easy enough. I have the tools with which to do it. I can saw a couple of bars in short order. Once you are free, you and I can bend our wits toward running our enemies to earth. But we are losing valuable time, and I am taking a lot of risk in doing this.” “I know it, Marcus, and I shall never forget it.” “Obey me in this and you will come out O. K. If you’d done it at the house when they were robbing the judge, you would not have been in this box.” “I know it, Marcus. But don’t take any more chances for me. I am resolved to stay here and meet my fate.” “Then it’s because you haven’t the sand in you I thought you had. Good night and pleasant dreams.” “Good night, Marcus. I wish you well. Take good care of yourself.” A moment later the form of Marcus disappeared from the narrow orbit of Dean’s range of vision, and he knew his last friend had left him alone.