fair. You went openly to my place of business. You made threatening
remarks about me to my partner. You are trying to ruin me."

"Ruin you?" she smiled. "There are things worse than ruin. If I could
have gotten your address I'd have followed you and shot you like a
dog!"

"I am not surprised," he said, calmly. "By accident I found the thing
you intended to do it with."

Her startled eyes crawled from his face to the piano. She strode to
it, threw back the scarf, and stood facing him.

"You have it?" she said.

He touched his bulging pocket. "Yes, I may use it on myself," he
retorted, grimly. "You say you've had enough; well, so have I. I have
sown my wild oats, Marie, but they have grown to a jungle around me.
During my vacation I made up my mind to turn over a new leaf, but I
suppose I have gone too far for that sort of thing. I couldn't marry
you--"

"You'd rather die than do it, hadn't you?" The woman's voice broke.
"Well, I can't blame you. I really can't." Her breast rose and shook.
"The devil is in me, Dick. It has been in me ever since--ever since--
but it won't do any good to talk about that. I am down and out."

"What do you mean?" He sank into one of the chairs heavily, his
despondent stare fixed on her softened face. "You may as well tell me.
I am ready for anything now."