“Then, I stay right here. Do you understand? And I would like to see any law drag a girl twenty years old to a place that she simply won’t go. Now, gentlemen, what are you going to do?” This was a sticker, and George Benson and the detective talked in low tones, while Nellie placed her arms about her lover’s neck. “Don’t you worry, Tom, about going, for you won’t be there long. Now then, when you go away you are to write to me every day, and I will to you, and just as soon as I find a good lawyer you shall be free.” “We have decided to allow you to take your friend Biddy with you for a while,” said the detective affably, “if, when Mr. Benson finds a lady of your own rank, you will be satisfied to allow this woman to go.” Nellie plumped herself down again in her chair. “I won’t agree to any such thing. Biddy’s been my mother for years, and if Mr. Benson doesn’t want her in his house, then I won’t go. I don’t want a lady of any different rank than myself, and Biddy is my choice. So there.” Tom smiled at her from his corner, and the sight made Benson furious. Again the two gentlemen conferred, while Nathans took it upon himself to argue with the girl. “Look a-here, Mr. Jew,” cried Nellie, “you just mind your business. No one has asked you to live with my Biddy, and Mr. Benson needn’t live with us either. If I have all the money you say I have then I can make a home for Biddy and me until I can get my Tom out.” Again George ground his teeth. He would soon make this girl realize that he was her guardian, and he would commence right then. “Helen, there will be a time in your life when you won’t want to associate with these people, and then you will be glad that I insisted that you come unencumbered into your beautiful home. You may bring Biddy with you for a while, but please do not think of that man again.” He pointed at Tom with his white index finger, and the girl’s eyes followed in that direction. The expression of pain that crossed her lover’s face hurt the girl’s heart. She slipped down at his feet, and placed her arms about him. “Tom, I love you; don’t you let those beasts of men make you believe otherwise. What are you doing?” “Taking off this,” and saying these words, the young fellow pulled his false whiskers and mustache from his face. “Well, my soul, Tom, how very handsome you are!” cried Nellie. “If I had known this before I would have taken several peeps at you as you are now.” “We have heard enough rot,” ejaculated Benson. “Now, young lady, when will you come to my home?” “To her home, you mean, Benson,” corrected the detective. “Well, what’s the difference? I shall stay with her until she is married, and maybe she will be satisfied to----” The rest of the words were lost to Tom, but he imagined what they were, and his cheek flushed and the blood seemed to burn his life away. As Arkwright was placing the hat upon the rearrested convict, Tom turned to Jim: “I suppose you did not tell your aunt about this affair?”