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mortgage？〃
〃He instructed me to begin suit in foreclosure immediately。〃
〃I don't understand this；〃 said Orde。
Lambert shook his head blandly。 Orde thought for a moment。
〃Where's your telephone？〃 he demanded abruptly。
He tried in vain to get Heinzman at his house。 Finally the
telephone girl informed him that although messages had come from the
stricken household； she had been unable to get an answer to any of
her numerous calls； and suspected the bell had been removed。
Finally Orde left the office at a loss how to proceed next。
Lambert； secretly overjoyed at this opportunity of exercising an
unaccustomed andow
you'd better get home where you can be taken care of。 You're sick。〃
〃No； no； my friend；〃 said Heinzman； vigourously shaking his ' autocratic power；
refused to see beyond his
instructions。 Heinzman's attitude puzzled Orde。 A foreclosure
could gain Heinzman no advantage of immediate cash。 Orde was forced
to the conclusion that the German saw here a good opportunity to
acquire cheap a valuable property。 In that case a personal appeal
would avail little。
Orde tramped out to the end of the pier and back； mulling over the
tangled problem。 He was pressed on all sidesby the fatigue after
his tremendous exertions of the past two weeks； by his natural
uneasiness in regard to Carroll； and finally by this new
complication which threatened the very basis of his prosperity。
Nevertheless the natural optimism of the man finally won its
ascendency。
〃There's the year of redemption on that mortgage；〃 he reminded
himself。 〃We may be able to do something in that time。 I don't
know just what；〃 he added whimsically； with a laugh at himself。 He
became grave。 〃Poor Joe；〃 he said； 〃this is pretty tough on him。
I'll have to make it up to him somehow。 I can let him in on that
California deal； when the titles are straightened out。〃
XLV
Orde did not return to the office； he felt unwilling to face Newmark
until he had a little more thoroughly digested the situation。 He
spent the rest of the afternoon about the place； picking up the tool
house； playing with Bobby； training Duke； the black and white setter
dog。 Three or four times he called up Carroll by telephone； and
three or four times he passed Dr。 McMullen's house to shout his half
of a long…distance and fragmentary conversation with her。 He ate
solemnly with Bobby at six o'clock； the two quite subdued over the
vacant chair at the other end of the table。 After dinner they sat
on the porch until Bobby's bed…time。 Orde put his small son to bed；
and sat talking with the youngster as long as his conscience would
permit。 Then he retired to the library； where； for a long time； he
sat in twilight and loneliness。 Finally； when he could no longer
distinguish objects across the room； he arose with a sigh； lit the
lamp； and settled himself to read。
The last of the twilight drained from the world； and the window
panes turned a burnished black。 Through the half…open sashes sucked
a warm little breeze； swaying the long lace curtains back and forth。
The hum of lawn…sprinklers and the chirping of crickets and tree…
frogs came with it。
One by one the lawn…sprinklers fell silent。 Gradually there
descended upon the world the deep slumbrous stillness of late night；
a stillness compounded of a thousand and one mysterious little
noises repeated monotonously over and over until their identity was
lost in accustomedness。 Occasionally the creak of timbers or the
sharp scurrying of a mouse in the wall served more to accentuate
than to break this night silence。
Orde sat lost in reverVy you do dot to the peoples dot safe your Mina？'
And ven she look at me； her eyes say it； and in the night everything
cry out at me； and I get sick； and I can't stand it no longer； and I
don't care if he send me to prison or to hell； no more。〃
His excitement died。 He sat listless； his eyes vacant； his hands
between his knees。
ie； his book in his lap。 At stated intervals
the student lamp at his elbow flared slightly； then burned clear
again after a swallow of satisfaction in its reservoir。 These
regular replenishments of the oil supply alone marked the flight of
time。
Suddenly Orde leaned forward； his senses at the keenest attention。
After a moment he arose and quietly walked toward the open window。
Just as he reached the casement and looked out； a man looked in。
The two stared at each other not two feet apart。
〃Good Lord！ Heinzman！〃 cried Orde in a guarded voice。 He stepped
decisively through the window； seized the German by the arm； and
drew him one side。
〃What are you doing here？〃 he demanded。
Heinzman was trembling violently as though from a chill。
〃Dake me somewheres；〃 he whispered hoarsely。 〃Somewheres quick。 I
haf broke quarantine； and dey vill be after me。〃
〃The place for you is at your own house；〃 said Orde； his anger
rising。 〃What do you mean by coming here and exposing my house to
infection？〃
Heinzman began to blubber； choked； shivered all over； and cried
aloud with an expression of the greatest agony：
〃You must dake me somewheres。 I must talk with you and your goot
wife。 I haf somedings to say to you。〃 He in his turn grasped Orde
by the arm。 〃I haf broke quarantine to gome and tell you。 Dey are
dere mit shotguns to kill me if I broke quarantine。 And I haf left
my daughter； my daughter Mina； all alone mit dose people to come and
tell you。 And now you don't listen。〃
He wrung his hands dramatically； his soft pudgy body shaking。
〃Come with me；〃 said Orde briefly。
He led the way around the house to the tool shed。 Here he lit a
lantern； thrust forward one nail keg； and sat down on another。
Heinzman sat down on the nail keg； almost immediately arose； walked
up and down two or three times； and resumed his seat。
Orde looked at him curiously。 He was half dressed； without a
collar； his thin hair unkempt。 The usual bright colour of his
cheeks had become livid； and the flesh； ordinarily firm and elastic；
had fallen in folds and wrinkles。 His eyes burned bright as though
from some internal fire。 A great restlessness possessed him。
Impulsively Orde leaned forward to touch his hand。 It was dry and
hot。
〃What is it； Heinzman？〃 he asked quietly； fully prepared for the
vagaries of a half delirium。
〃Ach； Orde！〃 cried the German； 〃I am tortured mit HOLLENQUALLEwhat
you call？hell's fire。 You； whose wife comes in and saves my Mina
when the others runs away。 You； my best friends！ It is
SCHRECKLICH！ She vas the noblest； the best； the most kindest〃
〃If you mean Mrs。 Orde's staying with Mina；〃 broke in Orde； 〃it was
only what any one should have done； in humanity； and I； for one； am
only too glad she had the chance。 You mustn't exaggerate。 And nhead。
〃