“No; but he comes here quite often to visit one of our boarders, sir--a Mr. Worthington--and it’s up to his room that he’s gone now.” “And is Miss---- Is anybody else up there with them?” inquired Owen, with great eagerness. “Yes, sir; Mr. Worthington’s sister from New York. She arrived here yesterday, and has the room next to her brother’s. She’s up in her room now--the second-floor rear--and----” Without waiting to hear any more Owen rushed up the stairway, and paused before a closed door, from behind which the deep voice of Jake Hines could be plainly heard. CHAPTER XXI. TRUE TO HIS COLORS. Owen Sheridan’s first impulse was to burst into the room. The mere voice of Jake Hines was like a challenge to him, filling him with suspicion and indignation. But in his work as a post-office inspector, discretion and caution were rapidly becoming habitual with him, and he waited quietly to learn what new rôle was being enacted by the young politician beyond the door. “I tell you, Dallas,” Hines was saying, “it’s the only chance of savin’ your brother from goin’ to jail. If you’re the right kind of a sister, you won’t hesitate for a minute. What’s a little thing like marryin’ me compared to seein’ your brother in stripes?” “Yes, Dallas,” said another masculine voice imploringly; “what Jake says is so. It depends entirely upon you whether I go to jail or not. The shortage hasn’t been discovered yet; but the auditor is due at the office next week, and as soon as he gets at the books I’m done for--unless I can replace the five thousand dollars before then.” “And I’ve got the money right here,” said Hines. “Five thousand dollars in bills, girlie. All you’ve got to do is to promise to marry me, and as soon as the license is made out I’ll hand the roll to your brother, and he’ll be safe.” “And it’ll be the last time I’ll enter a gambling house; I’ll promise you that, Dallas!” declared young Worthington. “You see me out of this scrape, and I’ll go straight from now on. You’ll do me this favor, won’t you, sis? You’re not going to be stubborn, and see your brother sent to prison. You’re the only one that can save me, Dallas. It’s entirely up to you?” “But, Chester,” came the tremulous voice of Dallas, “what you ask is quite impossible. I couldn’t marry this man, even to save you from disgrace and imprisonment. I really couldn’t do it, Chester. I’d do anything else in my power to help you, dear; but that’s out of the question.” “And why is it out of the question, I should like to know?” exclaimed Hines in an injured tone. “I ain’t such a bad feller, Dallas. There’s lots worse than me, I guess. To hear her talk, Chester, you’d think I was the worst demon that ever grew in the garden of love, wouldn’t you?”