of his class。 Now； he stared at Burke with a quizzical grin crooking his lips。
〃Say；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I'll bet it's the first time a guy was ever croaked with one of them things！ Ain't it？〃
The Inspector nodded affirmation。 There was sincere admiration in his expression； for he was ready at all times to respect the personal abilities of the criminals against whom he waged relentless war。
〃That's right； Joe！〃 he said； with perceptible enthusiasm。
〃Some class to that； eh？〃 Garson demanded； still with that gruesome air of boasting。 〃I got the gun； and the Maxim…silencer thing； off a fence in Boston；〃 he explained。 〃Say； that thing cost me sixty dollars； and it's worth every cent of the money。。。。 Why； they'll remember me as the first to spring one of them things； won't they？〃
〃They sure will； Joe！〃 the Inspector conceded。
〃Nobody knew I had it；〃 Garson continued； dropping his braggart manner abruptly。
At the words； Mary started； and her lips moved as if she were about to speak。
Garson； intent on her always； though he seemed to look only at Burke； observed the effect on her； and repeated his words swiftly； with a warning emphasis that gave the girl pause。
〃Nobody knew I had itnobody in the world！〃 he declared。 〃And nobody had anything to do with the killing but me。〃
Burke put a question that was troubling him much； concerning the motive that lay behind the shooting of Griggs。
〃Was there any bad feeling between you and Eddie Griggs？〃
Garson's reply was explicit。
〃Never till that very minute。 Then； I learned the truth about what he'd framed up with you。〃 The speaker's voice reverted to its former fierceness in recollection of the treachery of one whom he had trusted。
〃He was a stool…pigeon； and I hated his guts！ That's all；〃 he concluded； with brutal candor。
The Inspector moved restlessly in his chair。 He had only detestation for the slain man； yet there was something morbidly distasteful in the thought that he himself had contrived the situation which had resulted in the murder of his confederate。 It was only by an effort that he shook off the vague feeling of guilt。
〃Nothing else to say？〃 he inquired。
Garson reflected for a few seconds； then made a gesture of negation。
〃Nothing else；〃 he declared。 〃I croaked him； and I'm glad I done it。 He was a skunk。 That's all； and it's enough。 And it's all true； so help me God！〃
The Inspector nodded dismissal to the stenographer； with an air of relief。
〃That's all； Williams；〃 he said； heavily。 〃He'll sign it as soon as you've transcribed the notes。〃
Then； as the stenographer left the room； Burke turned his gaze on the woman； who stood there in a posture of complete dejection； her white； anguished face downcast。 There was triumph in the Inspector's voice as he addressed her； for his professional pride was full…fed by this victory over his foes。 But there was； too； an undertone of a feeling softer than pride； more generous； something akin to real commiseration for this unhappy girl who drooped before him； suffering so poignantly in the knowledge of the fate that awaited the man who had saved her； who had loved her so unselfishly
〃Young woman；〃 Burke said briskly； 〃it's just like I told you。 You can't beat the law。 Garson thought he couldand now！〃 He broke off； with a wave of his hand toward the man who had just sentenced himself to death in the electric…chair。
〃That's right；〃 Garson agreed； with somber intensity。 His eyes were grown clouded again now； and his voice dragged leaden。 〃That's right； Mary；〃 he repeated dully； after a little pause。 〃You can't beat the law！〃
There followed a period of silence； in which great emotions were vibrant from heart to heart。 Garson was thinking of Mary； and； with the thought； into his misery crept a little comfort。 At least； she would go free。 That had been in the bargain with Burke。 And there was the boy； too。 His eyes shot a single swift glance toward Dick Gilder； and his satisfaction increased as he noted the alert poise of the young man's body； the strained expression of the strong face； the gaze of absorbed yearning with which he regarded Mary。 There could be no doubt concerning the depth of the lad's love for the girl。 Moreover； there were manly qualities in him to work out all things needful for her protection through life。 Already； he had proved his devotion； and that abundantly； his unswerving fidelity to her； and the force within him that made these worthy in some measure of her。
Garson felt no least pang of jealousy。 Though he loved the woman with the single love of his life； he had never； somehow； hoped aught for himself。 There was even something almost of the paternal in the purity of his love； as if； indeed； by the fact of restoring her to life he had taken on himself the responsibility of a parent。 He knew that the boy worshiped her； would do his best for her； that this best would suffice for her happiness in time。 Garson； with the instinct of love； guessed that Mary had in truth given her heart all unaware to the husband whom she had first lured only for the lust of revenge。 Garson nodded his head in a melancholy satisfaction。 His life was done： hers was just beginning； now。。。。 But she would remember him oh； yes； always！ Mary was loyal。
The man checked the trend of his thoughts by a mighty effort of will。 He must not grow maudlin here。 He spoke again to Mary； with a certain dignity。
〃No； you can't beat the law！〃 He hesitated a little； then went on； with a certain curious embarrassment。 〃And this same old law says a woman must stick to her man。〃
The girl's eyes met his with passionate sorrow in their misty deeps。 Garson gave a significant glance toward Dick Gilder； then his gaze returned to her。 There was a smoldering despair in that look。 There were； as well； an entreaty and a command。
〃So；〃 he went on； 〃you must go along with him； Mary。。 。 。 Won't you？ It's the best thing to do。〃
The girl could not answer。 There was a clutch on her throat just then； which would not relax at the call of her will。
The tension of a moment grew； became pervasive。 Burke； accustomed as he was to scenes of dramatic violence； now experienced an altogether unfamiliar thrill。 As for Garson； once again the surge of feeling threatened to overwhelm his self…control。 He must not break down！ For Mary's sake； he must show himself stoical； quite undisturbed in this supreme hour。
Of a sudden； an inspiration came to him； a means to snap the tension； to create a diversion wholly efficacious。 He would turn to his boasting again； would call upon his vanity； which he knew well as his chief foible； and make it serve as the foil against his love。 He strove manfully to throw off the softer mood。 In a measure； at least； he won the fightthough always； under the rush of this vaunting； there throbbed the anguish of his heart。
〃You want to cut out worrying about me；〃 he counseled； bravely。 〃Why； I ain't worrying any； myselfnot a little bit！ You see； it's something new I've pulled off。 Nobody ever put over anything like it before。〃
He faced Burke with a grin of gloating again。
〃I'll bet there'll be a lot of stuff in the newspapers about this； and my picture； too； in most of 'em！ What？〃
The man's manner imposed on Burke； though Mary felt the torment that his vainglorying was meant to mask。
〃Say；〃 Garson continued to the Inspector； 〃if the reporters want any pictures of me； could I have some new ones taken？ The one you've got of me in the Gallery is over ten years old。 I've taken off my beard since then。 Can I have a new one？〃 He put the question with an eagerness that seemed all sincere。
Burke answered with a fine feeling of generosity。
〃Sure； you can； Joe！ I'll send you up to the Gallery right now。〃
〃Immense！〃 Garson cried； boisterously。 He moved toward Dick Gilder； walking with a faint suggestion of swagger to cover the nervous tremor that had seized him。
〃So long； young fellow！〃 he exclaimed； and held out his hand。 〃You've been on the square； and I guess you always will be。〃
Dick had no scruple in clasping that extended hand very warmly in his own。 He had no feeling of repulsion against this man who had committed a murder in his presence。 Though he did not quite understand the other's heart； his instinct as a lover taught him much； so that he pitied profoundlyand respected； too。
〃We'll do what we can for you；〃 he said； simply。
〃That's all right；〃 Garson replied； with such carelessness of manner as he could contrive。 Then； at last； he turned to Mary。 This parting must be bitter； and he braced himself with all the vigors of his will to combat the weakness that leaped from his soul。
As he came near； the girl could hold herself in leash no longer。 She threw herself on his breast。 Her arms wreathed about his neck。 Great sobs racked her。
〃Oh； Joe； Joe！〃 The gasping cry was of utter despair。
Garson's trembling hand patted the girl's shoulder very softly； a caress of infinite tenderness。
〃That's all right！〃 he murmured； huskily。 〃That's all right； Mary！〃 There was a short silence； and then he went on speaking； more firmly。 〃You know； he'll look after you。〃
He would have said more； but he could not。 It seemed to him that the sobs of the girl caught in his own throat。 Yet； presently； he strove once again； with every reserve of his strength； and； finally； he so far mastered himself that he could speak calmly。 The words were uttered with a subtle renunciation that was this man's religion。
〃Yes； he'll take care of you。 Why； I'd like to see the two of you with about three kiddies playing round the house。〃
He looked up over the girl's shoulder； and beckoned with his head to Dick； who came forward at the summons。
〃Take good care of her； won't you？〃
He disengaged himself gently from the girl's embrace； and set her within the arms of her husband； where she rested quietly； as if unable to fight longer against fate's decree。
〃Well； so long！〃
He dared not utter another word； but turned blindly； and went； stumbling a little； toward the doorman； who had appeared in answer to the Inspector's call。
〃To the Gallery；〃 Burke ordered； curtly。
Garson went on without ever a glance back。。。。 His s