“Yes,” said McNally, “they ripped into us at Sawyerville and we had the hell of a time till Wray's guards came up and stopped it. Wray let me through,--it was just after daylight,--and I picked up a horse from a farmer and rode down. But we got West though, damn him!--caught him sneaking through the bushes.” “Be careful, McNally, we've got to be careful. It's no time to get mixed up in a thing like that--we--we can't afford--” “That's all right, Porter. We don't know where he is--I don't know, you don't know--and before we find out he'll be loose again.” “But--Jim--Weeks don't forget that kind of thing, McNally--Jim Weeks--” “Oh, damn Jim Weeks! I'll take care of him.” Porter paused to drink at a gulp what was left of his coffee. “Remember, McNally, I can't back you if you get careless--I can't back you, you know.” “God, man! you've got to back me! You've got to back me through everything, or you'll go down with me. I tell you, Porter, we're too far in to back out, and it's nerve that's going to win. If you don't back me, if you don't draw on every cent you've got to shove it through, you'll be the one to be hit--not me.” He paced the floor. “Yes, sir. It's you if it's anybody.” Suddenly he stopped. He looked hard at Porter, then he turned quickly and strode into the office. Katherine was standing at the window. “Miss Katherine--” “Mr. McNally, my name is Miss Porter.” “Miss--Miss Porter, I met a friend of yours this morning. I met him under peculiar circumstances. We had some words, I regret to say, and he left this with me.” The plump, dirty hand drew a blue envelope from McNally's coat pocket. “It has seemed to me that where your father's honor was as seriously involved as in this matter, you should have followed some other course than that of traitor.” In his excitement, McNally misunderstood Katherine's silence. “You have deliberately drawn out your father and me that you might aid our opponents. I have watched you--I have seen it--it is not your fault that we are not ruined--and for the sake of a man that I caught spying on us this morning, sneaking through the bushes in the dark--” There was a groan from the doorway. Porter stood there with one hand over his eyes. Katherine looked for an instant, then she brushed past McNally, and with one arm about her father she called to the Captain, who stood at the other side of the waiting room. He came at once. “Captain,” she said, “I must ask you to take care of my father. Please telephone for a doctor and a closed carriage, and see that he is sent home at once. I shall drive there in the trap to prepare for him. Don't let this man”--she turned contemptuously toward McNally--“speak to him or excite him in any way. Will you do this?” As she spoke her face softened, and she held out her hand. The Captain took it. “Yes, Miss Porter, I will take care of him.”