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From that moment it was his； all his。 ‘‘My love； my dear love；'' she said。
She went to the closet and took out her hat。 She put it on before the
mirror over the mantelpiece。 ‘‘I'm ready；'' she said quietly。
In the street； she walked beside Casey； her father and Otto were close
behind with O'Rourke。 They turned into Sixth Street。 Half a block
down； in front of Meinert's； a crowd was surging； was filling sidewalk and
street。 When they came to the edge of it； Casey suddenly said ‘‘In here''
and took her by the arm。 All went down a long and winding passage；
across an open court to a back door where a policeman in uniform was
on guard。
‘‘Did you get her； Mike？'' said the policeman to Casey。
‘‘Here she is；'' replied Casey。 ‘‘She didn't give no trouble。''
The policeman opened the door。 He let Casey； Hilda and O'Rourke
pass。 He thrust back Brauner and Otto。 ‘‘No； you don't；'' he said。
‘‘Let us in！'' commanded Otto； beside himself with rage。
‘‘Not much！ Get back！'' He had closed the door and was standing
between it and them； one hand meaningly upon the handle of his sheathed
club。
‘‘I am her father；'' half…pleaded； half… protested Brauner。
‘‘Cap'n's orders；'' said the policeman in a gentler voice。 ‘‘The best
thing you can do is to go to the station house and wait there。 You won't
get to see her here。''
Meanwhile Casey； still holding Hilda by the arm； was guiding her
along a dark hall。 When they touched a door he threw it open。 He
pushed her roughly into the room。 For a few seconds the sudden blaze of
light blinded her。 Then
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Before her； stretched upon a table； wasMr。 Feuerstein。 She shrank
back and gazed at him with wide； fascinated eyes。 His face was turned
toward her； his eyes half…open； he seemed to be regarding her with a
glassy； hateful starethe ‘‘curse in a dead man's eye。'' His chin was
fallen back and down； and his lips exposed his teeth in a hideous grin。
And then she saw Sticking upright from his throat was a knife； the
knife from their counter。 It seemed to her to be trembling as if still agitated
from the hand that had fiercely struck out his life。
‘‘My God！'' moaned Hilda； sinking down to the floor and hiding her
face。
As she crouched there； Casey said cheerfully to Captain Hanlon； ‘‘You
see she's guilty all right； Cap'n。''
Hanlon took his cigar from between his teeth and nodded。 At this a
man sitting near him burst out laughing。 Hanlon scowled at him。
The manDoctor Wharton； a deputy coronerlaughed again。 ‘‘I
suppose you think she acts guilty；'' he said to Hanlon。
‘‘Any fool could see that；'' retorted Hanlon。
‘‘Any fool would see it； you'd better say；'' said Doctor Wharton。 ‘‘No
matter how she took it； you fellows would wag your heads and say
‘Guilty。' ''
Hanlon looked uneasily at Hilda； fearing she would draw
encouragement from Wharton's words。 But Hilda was still moaning。
‘‘Lift her up and set her in a chair；'' he said to Casey。
Hilda recovered herself somewhat and sat before the captain； her eyes
down； her fluttering hands loose in her lap。 ‘‘What was the trouble
between you and him？'' Hanlon asked her presently in a not unkindly
tone。
‘‘Must I tell？'' pleaded Hilda； looking piteously at the captain。 ‘‘I
don't know anything about this except that he came into our store and told
me he was going toto''
She looked at Feuerstein's dead face and shivered。 And as she looked；
memories flooded her； drowning resentment and fear。 She rose； went
slowly up to him； she laid her hand softly upon his brow； pushed back his
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long； yellow hair。 The touch of her fingers seemed to smooth the wild；
horrible look from his features。 As she gazed down at him the tears
welled into her eyes。 ‘‘I won't talk against him；'' she said simply。 ‘‘He's
deadit's all over and past。''
‘‘She ought to go on the stage；'' growled Casey。
But Wharton said in an unsteady voice； ‘‘That's right； Miss。 They
can't force you to talk。 Don't say a word until you get a lawyer。''
Hanlon gave him a furious look。 ‘‘Don't you meddle in this；'' he said
threateningly。
Wharton laughed。 ‘‘The man killed himself；'' he replied。 ‘‘I can tell
by the slant of the wound。 And I don't propose to stand by and see you
giving your third degree to this little girl。''
‘‘We've got the proof； I tell you；'' said Hanlon。 ‘‘We've got a witness
who saw her do itor at least saw her here when she says she wasn't here。''
Wharton shrugged his shoulders。
‘‘Don't say a word；'' he said to Hilda。 ‘‘Get a lawyer。''
‘‘I don't want a lawyer；'' she answered。
‘‘I'm not guilty。 Why should I get a lawyer？''
‘‘Well； at any rate； do all your talking in court。 These fellows will
twist everything you say。''
‘‘Take her to the station house；'' interrupted Hanlon。
‘‘But I'm innocent；'' said Hilda； clasping her hands on her heart and
looking appealingly at the captain。
‘‘Take her along； Casey。''
Casey laid hold of her arm； but she shook him off。 They went
through the sitting…room of the saloon and out at the side door。 When
Hilda saw the great crowd she covered her face with her hands and shrank
back。 ‘‘There she is！ There she is！ They're taking her to the station
house！'' shouted the crowd。
Casey closed the door。 ‘‘We'll have to get the wagon；'' he said。
They sat waiting until the patrol wagon came。 Then Hilda； half…
carried by Casey； crossed the sidewalk through a double line of blue coats
who fought back the frantically curious； pushed on by those behind。 In
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