n the table back of the couch。 In the same moment Garson snapped his torch to darkness。 When； after a little futile searching； Dick finally found the catch； and the mellow streamed forth； he uttered an ejaculation of stark amazement； for his gaze was riveted on the face of the woman he loved。
〃Good God！〃 It was a cry of torture wrung from his soul of souls。
Mary swayed toward him a little； palpitant with fear fear for herself； for all of them； most of all for him。
〃Hush！ hush！〃 she panted warningly。 〃Oh； Dick； you don't understand。〃
Dick's hand was at his throat。 It was not easy for him to speak yet。 He had suffered severely in the process of being throttled； and； too； he was in the clutch of a frightful emotion。 To find her； his wife； in this place； in such companyher； the woman whom he loved； whom； in spite of everything； he had honored； the woman to whom he had given his name！ Mary here！ And thus！
〃I understand this；〃 he said brokenly at last。 〃Whether you ever did it before or not； this time you have broken the law。〃 A sudden inspiration on his own behalf came to him。 For his love's sake； he must seize on this opportunity given of fate to him for mastery。 He went on with a new vehemence of boldness that became him well。
〃You're in my hands now。 So are these men as well。 Unless you do as I say； Mary； I'll jail every one of them。〃
Mary's usual quickness was not lacking even now； in this period of extremity。 Her retort was given without a particle of hesitation。
〃You can't；〃 she objected with conviction。 〃I'm the only one you've seen。〃
〃That's soon remedied；〃 Dick declared。 He turned toward the hall door as if with the intention of lighting the chandelier。
But Mary caught his arm pleadingly。
〃Don't； Dick；〃 she begged。 〃It'sit's not safe。〃
〃I'm not afraid；〃 was his indignant answer。 He would have gone on； but she clung the closer。 He was reluctant to use over…much force against the one whom he cherished so fondly。
There came a diversion from the man who had made the capture； who was mightily wondering over the course of events； which was wholly unlike anything in the whole of his own rather extensive housebreaking experience。
〃Who's this； anyhow？〃 Chicago Red demanded。
There was a primitive petulance in his drawling tones。
Dick answered with conciseness enough。
〃I'm her husband。 Who are you？〃
Mary called a soft admonition。
〃Don't speak； any of you；〃 she directed。 〃You mustn't let him hear your voices。〃
Dick was exasperated by this persistent identification of herself with these criminals in his father's house。
〃You're fighting me like a coward；〃 he said hotly。 His voice was bitter。 The eyes that had always been warm in their glances on her were chill now。 He turned a little way from her； as if in instinctive repugnance。 〃You are taking advantage of my love。 You think that because of it I can't make a move against these men。 Now； listen to me； I〃
〃I won't！〃 Mary cried。 Her words were shrill with mingled emotions。 〃There's nothing to talk about；〃 she went on wildly。 〃There never can be between you and me。〃
The young man's voice came with a sonorous firmness that was new to it。 In these moments； the strength of him； nourished by suffering； was putting forth its flower。 His manner was masterful。
〃There can be and there will be；〃 he contradicted。 He raised his voice a little； speaking into the shadows where was the group of silent men。
〃You men back there！〃 he cried。 〃If I give you my word to let every one of you go free and pledge myself never to recognize one of you again； will you make Mary here listen to me？ That's all I ask。 I want a few minutes to state my case。 Give me that。 Whether I win or lose； you men go free； and I'll forget everything that has happened here to…night。〃 There came a muffled guffaw of laughter from the big chest of Chicago Red at this extraordinarily ingenuous proposal； while Dacey chuckled more quietly。
Dick made a gesture of impatience at this open derision。
〃Tell them I can be trusted；〃 he bade Mary curtly。
It was Garson who answered。
〃I know that you can be trusted；〃 he said； 〃because I know you lo〃 He checked himself with a shiver； and out of the darkness his face showed white。
〃You must listen；〃 Dick went on； facing again toward the girl； who was trembling before him； her eyes by turns searching his expression or downcast in unfamiliar confusion； which she herself could hardly understand。
〃Your safety depends on me；〃 the young man warned。 〃Suppose I should call for help？〃
Garson stepped forward threateningly。
〃You would only call once；〃 he said very gently； yet most grimly。 His hand went to the noiseless weapon in his coat…pocket。
But the young man's answer revealed the fact that he； too； was determined to the utmost； that he understood perfectly the situation。
〃Once would be quite enough；〃 he said simply。
Garson nodded in acceptance of the defeat。 It may be； too； that in some subtle fashion he admired this youth suddenly grown resolute； competent to control a dangerous event。 There was even the possibility that some instinct of tenderness toward Mary herself made him desire that this opportunity should be given for wiping out the effects of misfortune which fate hitherto had brought into her life。
〃You win；〃 Garson said； with a half…laugh。 He turned to the other men and spoke a command。
〃You get over by the hall door； Red。 And keep your ears open every second。 Give us the office if you hear anything。 If we're rushed； and have to make a quick get…away； see that Mary has the first chance。 Get that； all of you？〃
As Chicago Red took up his appointed station； Garson turned to Dick。
〃Make it quick； remember。〃
He touched the other two and moved back to the wall by the fireplace； as far as possible from the husband and wife by the couch。
Dick spoke at once； with a hesitancy that betrayed the depth of his emotion。
〃Don't you care for me at all？〃 he asked wistfully。
The girl's answer was uttered with nervous eagerness which revealed her own stress of fear。
〃No； no； no！〃 she exclaimed； rebelliously。
Now； however； the young man had regained some measure of reassurance。
〃I know you do； Mary；〃 he asserted； confidently； 〃a little； anyway。 Why； Mary；〃 he went on reproachfully； 〃can't you see that you're throwing away everything that makes life worth while？ Don't you see that？〃
There was no word from the girl。 Her breast was moving convulsively。 She held her face steadfastly averted from the face of her husband。
〃Why don't you answer me？〃 he insisted。
Mary's reply came with all the coldness she could command。
〃That was not in the bargain；〃 Mary said； indifferently。
The man's voice grew tenderly winning； persuasive with the longing of a lover； persuasive with the pity of the righteous for the sinner。
〃Mary； Mary！〃 he cried。 〃You've got to change。 Don't be so hard。 Give the woman in you a chance。〃
The girl's form became rigid as she fought for self…control。 The plea touched to the bottom of her heart； but she could not； would not yield。 Her words rushed forth with a bitterness that was the cover of her distress。
〃I am what I am；〃 she said sharply。 〃I can't change。 Keep your promise； now； and let's get out of this。〃
Her assertion was disregarded as to the inability to change。
〃You can change；〃 Dick went on impetuously。 〃Mary； haven't you ever wanted the things that other women have； shelter； and care； and the big things of life； the things worth while？ They're all ready for you； now； Mary。。。。 And what about me？〃 Reproach leaped in his tone。 〃After all； you've married me。 Now it's up to you to give me my chance to make good。 I've never amounted to much。 I've never tried much。 I shall； now； if you will have it so； Mary； if you'll help me。 I will come out all right； I know thatso do you； Mary。 Only； you must help me。〃
〃I help you！〃 The exclamation came from the girl in a note of incredulous astonishment。
〃Yes；〃 Dick said； simply。 〃I need you； and you need me。 Come away with me。〃
〃No； no！〃 was the broken refusal。 There was a great grief clutching at the soul of this woman who had brought vengeance to its full flower。 She was gasping。 〃No； no！ I married you； not because I loved you； but to repay your father the wrong he had done me。 I wouldn't let myself even think of you； and thenI realized that I had spoiled your life。〃
〃No； not spoiled it； Mary！ Blessed it！ We must prove that yet。〃
〃Yes； spoiled it；〃 the wife went on passionately。 〃If I had understood； if I could have dreamed that I could ever care Oh； Dick； I would never have married you for anything in the world。〃
〃But now you do realize；〃 the young man said quietly。 〃The thing is done。 If we made a mistake； it is for us to bring happiness out of that error。〃
〃Oh； can't you see？〃 came the stricken lament。 〃I'm a jail…bird！〃
〃But you love meyou do love me； I know！〃 The young man spoke with joyous certainty； for some inflection of her voice had told the truth to his heart。 Nothing else mattered。 〃But now； to come back to this hole we're in here。 Don't you understand； at last； that you can't beat the law？ If you're caught here to…night； where would you get offcaught here with a gang of burglars？ Tell me； dear； why did you do it？ Why didn't you protect yourself？ Why didn't you go to Chicago as you planned？〃
〃What？〃 There was a new quality in Mary's voice。 A sudden throb of shock masked in the surface indifference of intonation。
Dick repeated his question； unobservant of its first effect。
〃Why didn't you go to Chicago as you had planned？〃
〃Planned？ With whom？〃 The interrogation came with an abrupt force that cried of new suspicions。
〃Why； with Burke。〃 The young man tried to be patient over her density in this time of crisis。
〃Who told you that I had arranged any such thing？〃 Mary asked。 Now the tenseness in her manner got the husband's attention； and he replied with a sudden gravity； apprehensive of he knew not what。
〃Burke himself did。〃
〃When？〃 Mary was standing rigid now； and the rare color flamed in her cheeks。 Her eyes were blazing。
〃Less than an hour ago。〃 He had caught the co