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in the bungalow she started with sharp expectancy that Jim had returned. Now and then she interrupted her own work by breaking into sobs. She had never trusted Railroad Jones, she had told Jim. . . .

A step in the doorway caused Mrs. Sandage to wheel about, but it was only Abner Teeftallow returned from the jail. She wiped her eyes.

"What did they say, Abner?" she asked heavily.

"Well—Railroad says it ain't quite time to make his move yet."

"His move—what kind of a move?" She looked at Abner with red-suspicious eyes. "Do you think he's goin' to make a move a-tall, Abner?"

"You know he won't let Jim stay in jail for as little as thirty thou—"

"I don't know nothin'!" cried the woman tremulously. "Sometimes I think he'd let Jim stay in there for thirty cents. Did you ever git him to talk to Jim?"

"No-o, I've ast him till I'm ashamed. He always says, 'What's the use? A jail ain't no place to talk reasonable in!"

"But it's a place to stay in." Mrs. Sandage suddenly burst into tears again. Presently she controlled herself and adjusted the ghastly teeth in her mouth. "Abner," she began carefully, "you're engaged to Adelaide, ain't you?"

The big fellow coloured and nodded.

"If you wanted to you could make Railroad pay Jim out of jail jest as easy as anything."

"Why, how?" inquired the youth curiously.

"Threaten to sue on your claim against ever' one of his places. That would jest about break him up, I reckon. You air somebody, Abner. You can make Railroad Jones treat Jim right if you want to."

A kind of nervous trickle went through Abner at the plan. He drew a long breath. "I'll tell you, Miss Haly, I'll see Adelaide an' talk this over. I—I'd hate to make Adelaide mad."