Sawyer wiped his eyes. "I went to another place before coming here," he said. "I went over to the bank and waited till McElwin came, and I had a talk with him. I told him that his daughter could never care for me, and that even if you should sign the petition I would refuse to recognize his authority in trying to compel her to marry me. She is in every way above me, so far beyond my reach that I don't love her. I have to go to another place--the court house. I am going to surrender myself to the law and be punished for that White Cap affair. I am going to acknowledge the whole thing." "No," said Lyman. "The law knows well enough what was done and who did it. And, besides, your old mother--" "Yes," Sawyer broke in, "but I thought it might be kept from her." "No, some one would tell her, some over-zealous friend. Let it drop." "Your word is law with me. And now I hope you won't feel hurt if I ask you something?" "The time for you and me to hurt each other is passed," said Lyman. "I thank you for saying that. You are a man if I ever met one. And how did you get the name of being desperate?" "I simply punished an over-bearing bully and my act was exaggerated." "They always exaggerate such things in this country. But that's not what I wanted to ask you. It's this: Do you need any money? now don't feel hurt; do you need any, and, if you do, won't you let me lend it to you for a year or so without interest?" "My dear fellow," said Lyman, "my affairs have prospered wonderfully of late. It's a singular position for me to be in, but I don't need money." "I was in hopes you did. I told McElwin just now that your check would be good as long as I had any money at his bank, and it made him wink, but before I went out he acknowledged that you were about the truest sort of a man he ever ran against. You have educated us all. And now as to a more delicate matter. I don't know what Eva thinks of you, or what you think of her, but I believe that the old man would be willing to recognize the law as young Bostic administered it. But we won't talk about that, and I ought not to have mentioned it. Is Mr. Warren out there? I want to see him a moment."