The elder man breathed an oath. "She's a blackmailer, and so is--
this person. Oh, don't look hurt, my friend." He froze Jim with a
glare. "Merkle told me how you tried to work your sister off on
him. When you couldn't make that go you grabbed the next best man,
eh? It's true, Bob; she's a stalking horse for her whole damned
family."

Bob centered his eyes laboriously upon the speaker, then said
distinctly: "We've been good friends, Jarvis; you're a kind of an
uncle to me, but--you're a liar. You've lied 'bout my wife, so
I'spose I've got to lick you." With a backward kick he sent his
overturned chair flying, then made for Hammon. But Jim seized him
by the arm; Lorelei sprang in front of him.

"Mr. Whar--Bob," she cried. "You mustn't--for my sake." The three
scuffled for an instant until Hammon said, more quietly:

"I couldn't fight with you, Bob--you're like my own son. But
you've been sold out, and--and it looks as if I'd been sold out,
too. Now go home and sleep. I didn't come here to quarrel with
you; I have a matter of my own to settle." He laid a hand on Bob's
shoulder in an effort to pacify him, but the young man's
indignation flared into life with drunken persistence. It was
Lorelei who at last prevailed upon her husband to leave peaceably,
and she was about to accompany him when Lilas Lynn checked her.

During this angry scene Lilas had not risen nor spoken, but had
sat with her elbows upon the table, her chin resting upon her
interlocked fingers, obviously enjoying it all. Her eyes were very