The duties of the day were at last done, and I turned toward the Kendrick house with a lively sense of my obligation to relieve the anxieties that might still be felt in that household. The afternoon had been taken up with the fag ends of our business complications, and darkness had set in before I could leave the office. The streets were quiet, and, except for the Vigilante patrols, were almost deserted. As I neared my destination a large man halted me with a raised pick-handle, and said: "Vere go you, mine vrendt? Don’d you petter go home?" I laughed and showed him my committee badge. "That’s where I’m going. And I hope you will have a quieter time than they gave us last night." "Oxcuse me," said the Vigilante. "I mine orders obey, and mine block of hoodlums kept swept." And with a good night, I hastened on my way to the Kendrick place. I found Laura and Mercy together. "Well," said Laura graciously, "I’m glad to see that you have kept out of the fighting for one little while. I was supposing that you were down on the Barbary Coast getting your head smashed. Take that big easy-chair; it’s the softest, and I’m sure you ought to appreciate it after all the knocks you’ve had." "Oh, it looks as though there was no more fighting to be done. The hoodlums have taken to their holes, and the Vigilante pick-handles rule the city." "Well, if it’s all over it will be a great relief to my mind," she replied. "And I suppose you’ll be glad to hear that uncle is better. He has come to his senses again, and I’ve set his mind at rest about the business, and Doctor Roberts says he will be out in a few weeks." "Well, all our troubles are coming to an end at once then," I said with a lightened spirit. "Yes, I got your note saying that the worst was over, and the business safe. It was good of you to send it. That was a shocking thing about Mr. Bolton. He was an old--well, I won’t say what, for he’s dead and gone--but I believe I feel sorry for him, after all." "Yes," said Mercy, with a grave nod, "whomever he injured, we know that it was himself he injured most of all. What will they do with Mr. Merwin?" "They’ve turned him loose already. The committing magistrate called it justifiable homicide, which is bad law, though there’s some elemental justice about it, and the crowd carried Merwin out of the court on their shoulders. The Grand Jury may take it up, but Bolton was not a popular character. At any rate Merwin is free now." "Well, he is a much injured man," said Laura, "though I don’t see that he has bettered himself. And now what did you mean in your note about having a very important communication from Big Sam? I have some curiosity left after all the excitement." "It’s highly interesting. Moon Ying turns out to be the long-lost daughter of a Somebody. Also Big Sam has a suitor for her hand." "Who is he? What is he?" came in a breath from the two girls.