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gone quite through to the outer skina clean wound。〃
〃How long；〃 said McNish； passing his tongue over his dry lips； 〃how
long does the doctor say〃
〃The doctor says nothing。 She asked for you。〃
McNish started up and went toward the door。
〃But you cannot go to her now。〃
〃She asked for me？〃 said McNish。
〃Yes。 But she must be kept quite quiet。 The very least excitement
might hurt her。〃
〃Hurt her？〃 said McNish； and sat down quietly。
After a moment's silence； he said：
〃You will let me see heronce morebefore sheshe〃 He paused；
his lips quivering； his great blue eyes pitifully beseeching her。
〃Mr。 McNish；〃 said Adrien； 〃she may not die。〃
〃Ma God！〃 he whispered； falling on his knees and catching her hand
in both of his。 〃Ma God！ Dinna lee tae me。〃
〃Believe me； I would not；〃 said Adrien； while the great eyes seemed
to drag the truth from her very soul。 〃The doctor says nothing；
but I have seen many cases of bullet wounds； and I have hope。〃
〃Hope；〃 he whispered。 〃Hope！ Ma God！ hope！〃 His hands went to
his face and his great frame shook with silent sobbing。
〃But you must be very quiet and steady。〃
Immediately he was on his feet and standing like a soldier at
attention。
〃Ay； A wull；〃 he whispered eagerly。 〃Tell me what tae do？〃
〃First of all；〃 said Adrien； 〃we must have something to eat。〃
A shudder passed through him。 〃Eat？〃 he said； as if he had never
heard the word。
〃Yes；〃 said Adrien。 〃Remember； you promised。〃
〃Ay。 A'll eat。〃 Like a man under a mesmeric spell； he went
through the motions of eating。 His mind was far away； his eyes
eager； alert； forever upon her face。
When they had finished their meal； Adrien said：
〃Now； Mr。 McNish； is there anything I can do for you？〃
〃A would like to send word to ma mither；〃 he said。 〃She disna ken
onythingabootaboot Annetteaboot Annette an' me；〃 a faint
touch of red coming slowly up in his grey face。
〃I shall get word to her。 I know the very man。 I shall phone the
Reverend Murdo Matheson。〃
〃Ay；〃 said McNish； 〃he is the man。〃
〃Now； then；〃 said Adrien； placing him in an easy chair； 〃you must
rest there。 Remember； I am keeping watch。〃
With the promise that he would do his best to rest； she left him
sitting bolt upright in his chair。
Toward morning； Maitland appeared； weary and haggard。 Adrien
greeted him with tender solicitude； it was almost maternal in its
tone。
〃Oh； Adrien；〃 said Maitland； with a great sight of relief； 〃you
don't know how good it is to see you here。 It bucks one
tremendously to feel that you are on this job。〃
〃I shall get you some breakfast immediately；〃 she answered in a
calm； matter…of…fact voice。 〃You are done out。 Your father has
come in and has gone to lie down。 McNish is in the library。〃
〃And Annette？〃 said Maitland。 He was biting his lips to keep them
from quivering。 〃Is she still〃
〃She is resting。 The maid is watching beside her。 Dear Jack；〃 she
uttered with a quick rush of sympathy； 〃I know how hard this is for
you。 But I am not without hope for Annette。〃
A quick light leaped into his eyes。 〃Hope； did you say？ Oh； thank
the good Lord。〃 His voice broke and he turned away from her。
〃You know；〃 he said； coming back； 〃she gave her life for me。 Oh；
Adrien； think of it！ She threw herself in the way of death for me。
She covered me with her own body。〃 He sat down suddenly as if
almost in collapse； and buried his head in his arms； struggling for
control。
Adrien went to him and put her arm round his shouldershe might
have been his mother。 〃Dear Jack；〃 she said； 〃it was a wonderful
thing she did。 God will surely spare her to you。〃
He rose wearily from his chair and put his arms around her。
〃Oh； Adrien；〃 he said； 〃it is good to have you here。 I do need； we
all need you so。〃
Gently she put his arms away from her。 〃And now；〃 she said
briskly； 〃I am going to take charge of you； Jack； of you all； and
you must obey orders。〃
〃Only give me a chance to do anything for you；〃 he said； 〃or for
anyone you care for。〃
There was a puzzled expression on Adrien's face as she turned away。
But she asked no explanation。
〃My first order； then；〃 she said； 〃is this： you must have your
breakfast and then go to bed for an hour or two。〃
〃I shall be glad to breakfast； but I have a lot of things to do。〃
〃Can't they wait？ And won't you do them better after a good
sleep？〃
〃Some of them can't wait；〃 he replied。 〃I have just got Tony to
bed。 The doctor has sent him to sleep。 His father and mother are
watching him。 Oh； Adrien； that is a sad home。 It was a terrible
experience for me。 Tony I must see when he wakes and the poor old
father and mother will be over here early。 I must be ready for
them。〃
〃Very well； Jack；〃 said Adrien in a prompt； businesslike tone。
〃You have two clear hours for sleep。 You must sleep for the sake
of others； you understand。 I promise to wake you in good time。〃
〃And what about yourself； Adrien？〃
〃Oh； this is my job；〃 she said lightly。 〃I shall be relieved in
the afternoon； the doctor has promised。〃
When the Employers' Defence Committee met next morning there were
many haggard faces among its members。 In the large hall outside
the committee room a considerable number of citizens； young and
old； had gathered and with them the Mayor； conversing in voices
tinged with various emotions； anxiety； pity； wrath； according to
the temper and disposition of each。
In the committee room Mr。 Farrington was in the chair。 No sooner
had the meeting been called to order than Mr。 Maitland arose； and；
speaking under deep but controlled feeling； he said：
〃Gentlemen； I felt sure none of us would wish to transact ordinary
business this morning。 I was sure； too； that in the very
distressing circumstances under which we meet you would feel as I
do the need of guidance and help。 I therefore took the liberty of
inviting the deputation from the Ministerial Association which
waited on us the other day to join us in our deliberation。 Mr。
Haynes is away from town； but Dr。 Templeton and Mr。 Matheson have
kindly consented to be present。 They will be here in half an
hour's time。〃
A general and hearty approval of his action was expressed； after
which the Chairman invited suggestions as to the course to be
pursued。 But no one was ready with a suggestion。 Somehow the
outlook upon life was different this morning； and readjustment of
vision appeared to be necessary。 No man felt himself qualified to
offer advice。
From this dilemma they were relieved by a knock upon the door and
the Mayor appeared。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃I have no wish to intrude； but a great many
of our citizens are in the larger hall。 They are anxious to be
advised upon the present trying situation。 It has been suggested
that your committee might join with us in a general public
meeting。〃
After a few moments' consideration； the Mayor's proposition was
accepted and the committee adjourned to the larger hall； Mr。
Farrington resigning the chair to His Worship； the Mayor。
The Mayor's tongue was not so ready this morning。 He explained the
circumstances of the meeting and thanked the committee for yielding
to his request。 He was ready to receive any suggestions as to what
the next step should be。
The silence which followed was broken by Mr。 McGinnis； who arose
and； in a voice much shaken； he inquired：
〃Can anyone tell us just what is the last word concerning the young
girl this morning？〃
Mr。 Maitland replied： 〃Before I left the house； the last report
was that she was resting quietly and； while the doctor was not able
to offer any hope of her recovery； he ventured to say that he did
not quite despair。 And that from Dr。 Meredith； as we know； means
something。〃
〃Thank God for that；〃 said McGinnis； and leaning his head upon his
hand； he sat with his eyes fixed upon the floor。
Again the Mayor asked for suggestions； but no one in the audience
appeared willing to assume the responsibility of offering guidance。
At length Rupert Stillwell arose。 He apologised for speaking in
the presence of older men； but something had to be done and he
ventured to offer one suggestion at least。
〃It occurs to me；〃 he said； 〃that one thing at least should be
immediately done。 Those responsible for the disgraceful riot of
last evening； and I mean more than the actual ringleaders in the
affair； should be brought to justice。〃 He proceeded to elaborate
upon the enormity of the crime； the danger to the State of mob
rule； the necessity for stern measures to prevent the recurrence of
such disorders。 He suggested a special citizens' committee for the
preservation of public order。
His words appeared to meet the approval of a large number of those
present； especially of the younger men。
While he was speaking； the audience appeared to be greatly relieved
to see Dr。 Templeton and the Reverend Murdo Matheson walk in and
quietly take their seats。 They remembered； many of them； how at a
recent similar gathering these gentlemen had advised a procedure
which； if followed； would have undoubtedly prevented the disasters
of the previous night。
Giving a brief account of the procee