"I have some money of my own--I will send it all to you. I will get money for you--as long as you need it--but after a time you will--not need it! And then"--here Joan stretched out her clasped hands--"I know it sounds almost impossible--but it can be made true--you can come back to us all; help us keep the secret, and--watch with us. You and I owe this--to Aunt Doris; to my mother! It may be your--your--recompense." Thornton got upon his feet. He held to the table to steady himself, and a subtle dignity grew upon him. "I am going away," he said, slowly, "until I can think over this infernal business by myself. The time to act hasn't come yet--that's certain. I don't want--your money; not now. If I do, I'll send for it. If I ever come again it will be to--" he paused, flung his head up--"to see you; to look on at the working out of the damned mess." He reached out for the locket and case. "Good-bye," he said, gruffly. "You need not be afraid--not now." "I am not afraid." Joan rose weakly. "I shall wait for you. I am sure you will come. "Good-bye; good-bye!" Outside Thornton stumbled against old Jed. "The Ship's sailing!" the quavering, foolish words startled Thornton; "you best get aboard, sir, anchor's lifting!" Jed staggered away, grinning and muttering. Thornton stared after the swaying figure. Then he thought of the Philippines, his old battle ground--he would go back! The idea caught and held him. On the river road his horse stood nibbling the grass; a woman was beside it--a lean, stooping woman with a home-spun shawl clutched over her sunken breasts by one hand, in the other was a massive, rusty gun! She turned and confronted Thornton. She knew him at once, but he merely frowned at her as he eyed the weapon uneasily. "Who are you?" he asked. The place, the experience were getting to be too much for his shaken nerves. "That don't matter," Mary raised her deep eyes, they were burning with superstitious intentness; "but I have a message for you--you best heed it. We don't stand for strangers hanging around here. See there!" Mary pointed to The Rock--Thornton's excited fancy caught the wavering outlines of The Ship. "All that's wise--goes with that." Mary turned away. "You best heed!" she muttered as Jed had, and slunk off. Thornton shivered. He had not eaten for many hours; he was weary and beaten. "My God!" he muttered as he mounted the horse; "what--a conspiracy! What a hole to get away from. She thinks I'm looking for stills. Stills!" he gave a weak laugh. Joan stood until she heard the sound of the horse's hoofs on the road, then she turned to the freshly brushed but empty hearth and knelt, shivering.