Rogers, rigidly erect, watched him in fearing suspicion for a space, then said, "Finish a little later," and led him through the other door of the room into the hall. When the door had closed Rogers leaned weakly against it. "What's the matter?" cried David. "D'you think he heard what we said about Red Thorpe?" "Him!" said the Mayor. "Didn't you bump your nose agin his breath? Hear?--nothin'! He was dead to the world!" "He didn't hear me come up," returned Rogers with tense quiet. "When I saw him first his eyes were open." "Are you sure?" asked David. "Wide open. He snapped them shut when he saw me." They looked at each other in apprehension, which the Mayor was first to throw off. "He probably didn't hear nothin'. And if he did, I bet he didn't understand. And if he did understand, what's he likely to do? Nothin'. You've been a friend to him and his girl, and he ain't goin' to do you no dirt. Anyhow, in a week or two it'll all be over and you'll be pointed toward Colorado." They heard Kate enter the office and they broke off. The Mayor, remarking that he had to go, drew David out into the hall. "He dreams o' troubles--I've got 'em," the Mayor whispered. "I asked her to fix the weddin' day last night. She'd been leadin' up to it so much I couldn't put off askin' any longer. And o' course I had to ask it to be soon--oh, I've got to play the part, you know! Did she put it away off in the comfortable distance? Not her! She said she could get ready in a month. Now what d'you think o' that? Who ever heard of a woman gettin' ready in a month! She said since I seemed so anxious she'd make it four weeks from yesterday. Only twenty-seven more days! "And say, you remember all them lies I told her about myself when I was tryin' to scare her off. Well, she's already begun to throw my past in my face! Rogers there, he dreams o' troubles--but, oh Lord, wouldn't I like to trade!" With a dolorous sigh the Mayor departed and David went into the office. As he sat down at his desk Kate Morgan looked sharp questions at him--questions concerning Lillian Drew. She did not speak her questions that afternoon, but they had planned a walk for the evening and they were hardly in the street when the questions began to come. David was instantly aware that the Kate Morgan beside him was the Kate Morgan of a year ago, whose impulses were instantly actions and whose emotions were instantly words. "Who was that woman this morning?" she demanded. "Her name is Lillian Drew." He offered her his arm, but she roughly refused it. "Who is she?" "I know little of her; I have spoken to her but once before," he answered evasively. But in thinking he could parry her with evasion, he had forgotten her old persistent directness. "I know better--you know a great deal about her! And she has something to do with you. Do you suppose I didn't see that in a second this morning?"