He did not answer her at all. Unconsciously, after how long a time neither of them could have told, they both had arisen. He stood before her, motionless, she herself slightly swaying. Impulsively, she extended her hands towards him in the twilight of the room. “I know you!” said she. “I know what you want You want to kiss me, don’t you?” She looked at him gravely. He could not answer. He made no motion. But Polly Pendleton knew now that if any salutation came from this man it would be from a different man than the one who had entered this room a half-hour previous. In short, she knew, whether or not he knew it, that David Joslin was saved. “Among so many——” began Polly Pendleton, trying to laugh and half sobbing. “Oh, well——” He never knew how or when he found the street. Across the hall appeared the red and irate face of a gentleman who, apparently, had long been waiting. “Where on earth have you been, kid?” he demanded querulously. “Everything’s getting cold.” “Oh, have a heart, old dear,” said Polly Pendleton, dabbing indefinitely at her countenance with a handkerchief. “I had to powder my nose, didn’t I?” CHAPTER XV THE ORIGINAL SIN AS JOSLIN wandered along a street unknown to him, lighted by flickering arc lights, he was not conscious of the exercise of any of his faculties, but a faint, sweetish smell came to him, a thing familiar in its way. It was the smell of distilled liquors. He looked up, and saw by the sign above the door that here one by the name of John Moran sold aged whiskeys bonded in the wood. Inside, the room was still light, though now the proprietor was beginning to put away his bottles for the night, it being past midnight. Joslin turned in at the door without any definite purpose in his mind. The proprietor looked at him inquiringly, standing at attention behind the bar. Joslin swayed slightly as he approached, and placed his last two coins upon the counter. The bar man was of the very plausible belief that his customer was already the worse for liquor. “Sir,” said he, “that’s all the money I have. I want to rest here to-night if I may. I want to give you the dime, and I want you to let me keep this quarter.” “I’m just closing up,” began the man, pushing back his bottles upon the shelf. Joslin looked at him straight as he replied: “I know, but I’m alone in this town, and I’ve no place to lay my head. I’m in trouble. Perhaps you know what trouble means?” The man looked at him curiously, accustomed as he was to all the vagaries of alcohol. “Have one on the house,” said he at length, and pushed the bottle once more toward his customer. Joslin picked up the flask with trembling hand, and poured out a full drink into the glass. He raised it to his lips, but did not drink. “Sir,” said he, “I find I do not need to drink.” The proprietor, was disposed to be irritable. “On your way, neighbor,” said he, “This is a saloon, and we sell liquor here.”