you, but, as God is my witness, I'm glad I've got the chance to
suffer in your stead."

"You shall not! They shall believe I did it. I will make Lot Gordon
tell. He shall tell before he dies!"

The bolt slid back, and Alvin Mead's great bulk darkened the doorway.
Madelon turned her face towards him, with her arms still clasping
Burr and holding his head to her bosom. "This man is innocent!" she
cried out, with a fierce gesture of protection, as if she were
defending her young instead of her false lover. "I tell you he is
innocent--you must let him go! I am the one who stabbed Lot Gordon!"

Alvin Mead stared; his heavy pink jaw lopped.

"I tell you, you must let him go!" She released Burr from her arms
and gave him a push towards the door. "Go out," she said; "I am the
one to stay here."

But Alvin Mead collected and brought about his great body with a show
of lumbering fists. "Come," said he, "this ain't a-goin to do. We
can't have no sech work as this, young woman. It's time you went."

"Let him go, I tell you!" commanded Madelon, confronting him
fiercely. "I am going to stay."

"They won't let you come again if you don't go quietly now," Burr
whispered, and he laid his hand on her nervous shoulder.

"I ruther guess we won't have no sech doin's again," said Alvin Mead,