Henrietta let her hand drop from his shoulder. She looked around. Gay was still at the far end of the porch, keeping studiously aloof. When Henrietta looked at Carter Bruce again, the light of frank truthfulness that always shone in her eyes when she was lying was in her eyes. “I hoped I would not have to tell you,” she said, “but now I must. Even if you do not love Gay you must help her. You must protect her from Freeman. Carter, will you keep what I say sacredly confidential?” “Of course.” “Freeman has a wife. He is married and his wife is living.” “The devil you say!” Bruce exclaimed. “How do you know that?” Gay, from her end of the porch, spoke. “I can hear!” she warned. “I heard what Carter said.” Henrietta lowered her voice. “I know his wife. She is an old friend of mine,” she said. “Her name is Mary Vane. That is her name now, since she married Freeman.” Bruce was sufficiently interested now. ' “Then his name is not Todder?” he asked. “No,” said Henrietta. “It is Vane--William Vane. There are reasons why he cannot use it.” “That's rotten,” Carter Bruce declared. “I knew there was something wrong about him, hanging around Riverbank when he don't earn enough at Alberson's to pay his laundry. Where is this wife of his? Why does he stay here? He must know you know about him.” “He does, Carter,” Henrietta said. “He is getting money out of me. That's how he lives. His wife is in Colorado.” “Money? From you?” said Carter with momentary suspicion. “What hold has he on you?” Henrietta was looking straight into his eyes. “His wife is my daughter,” she prevaricated glibly. “Tubercular. And--don't you see?--with my husband there in Colorado, too, and my poor wage from the school all we have to live upon, that if I say anything we must all starve. They would send me away, Carter. 'No married women need apply.'” “Ah!” said Carter sympathetically. “So you will do what you can for Gay--for my sake, even if not for your own?'” “Yes.” They walked to Gay's end of the porch. “He's going to help us, Gay,” Henrietta cried. “He will do all he can for Lem.” “Carter! You're so good!” Gay cried and clasped his hand for a moment in thanks.' “That's all right,” he said. “I 'll do all I can. It is not much of a case--not a very serious case--but if I were you and Henrietta I would try my smiles on father first. He likes you both. You have a pull with dad.” They did not have long to wait, for old Judge Bruce came slowly up the shaded street, his coat over his arm. Henrietta was upon him before he had fairly entered his yard, her arm through his, coaxing him to be a dear, sweet man and be easy with Lem. “Well, I had a mind that way myself,” said the justice teasingly, “until this here female lobby come a huggin' and kissin' me and tryin' to corrupt the bench. Now I guess I 'll have to give the young reprobates a hundred years in jail, all three of 'em, and old Harvey about two hundred on bread and water at hard labor. I guess so.”