"Dan," he began, "I don't believe you put that dynamite on the engine; I have said so, and if I don't prove it I am to be dismissed. That conclusion was reached to-day at a meeting of the directors of the road. I have been accused of sympathy with the strikers, it seems, before, and now, after the statement by the attorney that I used my influence to have you discharged after he had made out a clear case against you, I have been informed by the general manager that I will be expected to prove your innocence or look for another place. "I have been with the Burlington all my life and don't want to leave them, particularly in this way, but it is on your account, more than on my own, that I have come here to-night to ask you to tell the whole truth about this matter and go from this place a free man." "To do that I must become an informer, the result of which would be to put another in my place. No, I can't do that; I've nothing to do at present and I might as well remain here." "And let your old friend here be discharged, if not disgraced?" asked Mrs. Cowels. "No, that must not be," said Moran, and he was then silent for a moment as if trying to work out a scheme to prevent that disaster to his much-loved superior. "You must let me think it over," he said, presently. "Let me think it over to-night." "And let the guilty one escape," Mrs. Cowels added. "Some people seem to think," said Moran, with just a faint attempt at a smile, "that the guilty one is quite secure." "Don't talk nonsense, Dan," she said, "you know I believe you." "And you, my friend?" he said as he extended his hand to the official. "You know what I believe," said the visitor; "and now good-night--I shall see you again soon." "I hope so," said Dan. "It is indeed very good of you to call, and of you, too," he added, as he turned to his fairer visitor. "I shall not forget your kindness to me, and only hope that I may be of some help to you in some way, and do something to show my appreciation of this visit and of your friendship. But," he added, glancing about him, "one can't be of much use to his friends shut up in a hole like this." "You can do me a great favor, even while in prison," she said. "Only say what it is and I shall try." "Tell us who put the dynamite on Blackwings." "I shall try," he said, "only let me have time to think what is best to do." "What is right is what is best to do," said Mrs. Cowels, holding out her hand--"Good-night." "Good-night," said the prisoner, "come again when you can, both of you." And the two visitors passed out into the clear, cold night, and when the prisoner had seen them disappear he turned to his little friend, the book. CHAPTER FOURTEENTH "Mr. Scouping of _The London Times_ would like to see you for a few minutes," said the jailor. "I don't care to see any newspaper man," said Moran, closing his book.