“What do I come here for?” repeated the man grimly, looking around the room; “what did I come to this yer comfortable home--this yer big ranch and to a rich woman like yourself for? Well, Mrs. Wade, I come to get the six hundred dollars your husband robbed me of, that's all! I ain't askin' more! I ain't askin' interest! I ain't askin' compensation for havin' to run for my life--and,” again looking grimly round the walls, “I ain't askin' more than you will give--or is my rights.” “But this house never was his; it was my father's,” gasped Mrs. Wade; “you have no right”-- “Mebbe 'yes' and mebbe 'no,' Mrs. Wade,” interrupted the man, with a wave of his hat; “but how about them two checks to bearer for two hundred dollars each found among your husband's effects, and collected by your lawyer for you--MY CHECKS, Mrs. Wade?” A wave of dreadful recollection overwhelmed her. She remembered the checks found upon her husband's body, known only to her and her lawyer, believed to be gambling gains, and collected at once under his legal advice. Yet she made one more desperate effort in spite of the instinct that told her he was speaking the truth. “But you shall have to prove it--before witnesses.” “Do you WANT me to prove it before witnesses?” said the man, coming nearer her. “Do you want to take my word and keep it between ourselves, or do you want to call in your superintendent and his men, and all Santy Any, to hear me prove your husband was a highwayman, thief, and murderer? Do you want to knock over that monument on Heavy Tree Hill, and upset your standing here among the deacons and elders? Do you want to do all this and be forced, even by your neighbors, to pay me in the end, as you will? Ef you do, call in your witnesses now and let's have it over. Mebbe it would look better ef I got the money out of YOUR FRIENDS than ye--a woman! P'raps you're right!” He made a step towards the door, but she stopped him. “No! no! wait! It's a large sum--I haven't it with me,” she stammered, thoroughly beaten. “Ye kin get it.” “Give me time!” she implored. “Look! I'll give you a hundred down now,--all I have here,--the rest another time!” She nervously opened a drawer of her desk and taking out a buckskin bag of gold thrust it in his hand. “There! go away now!” She lifted her thin hands despairingly to her head. “Go! do!” The man seemed struck by her manner. “I don't want to be hard on a woman,” he said slowly. “I'll go now and come back again at nine to-night. You can git the money, or what's as good, a check to bearer, by then. And ef ye'll take my advice, you won't ask no advice from others, ef you want to keep your secret. Just now it's safe with me; I'm a square man, ef I seem to be a hard one.” He made a gesture as if to take her hand, but as she drew shrinkingly away, he changed it to an awkward bow, and the next moment was gone.