"No, he made me admit that John didn't know, and then he said he'd stay here and tell him himself that I'd made him lie, and he said something about liking the other man and wanting to save him." "Save him?" exclaimed Elfie derisively. "Shucks! He's jealous!" "I told him if he'd only go I'd--tell John myself when he came, and now, you see, I'm waiting--and I've got to tell--and--and I don't know how to begin--and--and I thought you could help me--you seem so sort of resourceful, and it means--it means so much to me. If John turned on me now I couldn't go back to Will, and, Elfie--I don't think I'd care to--stay here any more." "What!" exclaimed Elfie. Impulsively, she took Laura in her arms. "Dearie," she said earnestly, "get that nonsense out of your head and be sensible. I'd just like to see any two men who could make me think about--well--what you seem to have in your mind." "But I don't know what to do," went on Laura. "Can't you see, Elfie, I don't know what to do. If I don't tell him, Will will come back and he'll tell him. I know John, and maybe----" Fearfully she added: "Do you know, I think John would kill him!" "Nonsense!" laughed the girl. "Don't waste your time worrying about that. Now, let's get down to cases. We haven't much time. Business is business, and love is love. You're long on love, and I'm long on business, and, between the two of us, we ought to straighten this thing out. Now, evidently John is coming on here to marry you." "Yes." "And you love him?" "Yes." "And, as far as you know, the moment that he comes in here, it's quick to the justice and a wedding?" "Yes; but you see how impossible it is----" "I don't see that anything is impossible. From all you've said to me about this fellow, there is only one thing to do." "What is that?" "To get married--quick. You say he has the money, and you have the love. You're sick of Brockton, and you want to switch and do it in the decent, respectable, conventional way, and he's going to take you away. Haven't you got sense enough to know that once you're married to Mr. Madison that Will Brockton wouldn't dare go to him? Even if he did, Madison wouldn't believe him. A man will believe a whole lot about his girl, but nothing about his wife." Laura turned and looked at her. There was a long pause. "Elfie--I--I--don't think I could do that to John. I don't think--I could deceive him." Her companion made a gesture of impatience. Rising, she cried: