"Have a care what you say, young man, or I will hand you over to the courts, where your crime will receive its just punishment. Your assumed innocence cannot stand against proofs so damaging as these books reveal." "But I never committed the deed. I am innocent of anything so despicable. I a defaulter! God knows I never wronged any man. Oh, why was I brought out of the burning factory!" His weak condition showed that he had miscalculated his strength, and Senator Hamblin looking into his face, saw its deathly pallor, while the poor man's eyeballs seemed almost ready to burst from their sockets. Much alarmed, he rose hastily, and seizing the hand of George Alden, said: "I pity you--God knows I do. You are only human, and I will try and help you out of this trouble, for I recognize you have claims upon me." "Thank you; perhaps I spoke hastily just now, but answer me--do you think I am guilty?" "The evidence is very strong against you." "But have you never thought another might have desired to get me out of the way?" "To whom do you refer?" The cashier turned, and pointing toward the door opening into the banking department, replied: "The man who once went back on _you_." "No, I cannot believe that--for he pities you, and to him you owe the fact that no one knows of your crime but him and myself." "My crime? Stop! do not call it that." "Calm yourself, George, and let us talk of the future. Of course, it is impossible for you to remain in the bank. No one but Sargent and myself knows of the affair. You are without means to make good the missing sum. I have suffered great anguish of mind since I learned of this matter, and am not indifferent to the existing relations between you and my family, which makes my course toward you far different than it would be were our relations otherwise. Beside this, your brave act of last fall entitles you to consideration, therefore I will befriend and help you, if I can." "Thank you, sir! thank you. I--I am so bewildered, I scarcely know what to do. I cannot realize that I am awake. I know I am innocent of any crime; but I have no adviser." "Listen a moment," replied the president. "I can and will help you. I will replace the money, and thus make good the defalcation--advance you five hundred dollars beside, and you can quietly leave Cleverdale." "I leave Cleverdale like a criminal! Confessing by flight that I am a thief! No, sir, I cannot do that."