place to which we could go to talk, and, fearing she would get too
cold, we had moved on. Last month she tried to take her life. This
morning she was telling me she could hold out no longer. There was
no way out of it but death."

"Who is she?"

Before he could answer I understood. Shivering, I turned away, then
I came back.

"Will you come to my sitting-room, Mr. Guard? Can we not talk as
human beings who are trying to find the right way to--to help wrong
things?"




CHAPTER XIV

A moment later we were up-stairs. "I don't know why I am so cold."
My hands, not yet steady, were held out to the leaping flames.
"Usually I love a snow-storm, but to-day--"

"They tell me you rarely have such weather as we have had of late.
Personally I like it, but to many it means anything but pleasure.
Is this the chair you prefer?"

At my nod he pushed a low rocker closer to the fire and placed a
foot-stool properly. Drawing up the wing-chair he sat down and
looked around the room. As the light fell on him I noticed the