full on my face.  She held me by both
hands, and her eyes fastened searchingly on mine.

"I see!" she said, in a low eager whisper.  "You are trying the
last chance to-night."

"Yes, the last chance and the best," I whispered back.

"Not alone! Oh, Walter, for God's sake, not alone! Let me go with
you.  Don't refuse me because I'm only a woman.  I must go! I will
go! I'll wait outside in the cab!"

It was my turn now to hold HER.  She tried to break away from me
and get down first to the door.

"If you wordnetdesire to help me," I said, "stop here and sleep in my
wife's room to-night.  Only let me go away with my mind easy about
Laura, and I answer for everything else.  Come, Marian, give me a
kiss, and show that you have the courage to wait till I come
back."

I dared not allow her time to say a word more.  She tried to hold
me again.  I unclasped her hands, and was out of the room in a
moment.  The boy below heard me on the