was quite alone at her end of the place. By this time a close observer
might have noticed that she was trembling violently; there was an air of
abject fear and despair in her manner.

Why did he not come? What had happened? Had the plot failed? Was he even
now lying wounded unto death as the result of his effort to escape
captivity? A hundred horrid thoughts raced through her throbbing,
overwrought brain. He should have been with her two hours ago--he should
now be far on his way to freedom. Alas, something appalling had
happened, she was sure of it.

At last there hove in sight, coming from the direction in which lay the
prison, a group of three men. It was a jaunty party, evidently under the
influence of many libations. They came with arms linked, with dignified
but unsteady gait, their hats well back on their heads. In the middle
was a very tall man, flanked on one side by a very short fat one, on the
other by a slender youth who wanted to sing.

She recognised them and would have drawn back to a less exposed spot,
but the slender youth saw her before she could do so. He shouted to his
companions as if they were two blocks away.

"There she is! Hooray!"

They bore down upon her. The next instant they were solemnly shaking
hands with her, much to her dismay.

"Cons'ance, we've been lookin' f-fer you ever'-where in town. W-where on
earth 've you been?" asked Mr. Rodney thickly, with a laudable attempt
at severity.