“Yes; she’ll worry about me, I know.  I’m disgraced for life; but I’ve saved Lucy from any disgrace, and she’s young.  She’ll forget me before I’ve served my term, and—­and take up with some other young fellow.”

“Would you like that?” asked Beth.

“No, indeed,” he replied, frankly.  “But it will be best that way.  I had to stand by Lucy—­she’s so sweet and gentle, and so sensitive.  I don’t say I did right.  I only say I’d do the same thing again.”

“Couldn’t her parents have helped her?” inquired Kenneth.

“No.  Old Will is a fine fellow, but poor and helpless since Mrs. Rogers had her accident.”

“Oh, did she have an accident?” asked Beth.

“Yes.  Didn’t you know?  She’s blind.”

“Her husband didn’t tell us that,” said the girl.

“He was fairly prosperous before that, for Mrs. Rogers was an energetic and sensible woman, and kept old Will hard at work.  One morning she tried to light the fire with kerosene, and lost her sight.  Then Rogers wouldn’t do anything but lead her around, and wait upon her, and the place went to rack and ruin.”

“I understand now,” said Beth.

“Lucy could have looked after her mother,” said young Bates, “but old Will was stubborn and wouldn’t let her.  So the girl saw something must be done and went to work.  That’s how all the trouble came about.”

He spoke simply, but paced up and down the narrow cell in front of them.  It was evident that his feelings were deeper than he cared to make evident.

“Whose name did you sign to the check?” asked Kenneth.

“That of John E. Marshall, the manager of the mill.  He is supposed to sign all the checks of the concern.  It’s a stock company, and rich.  I was bookkeeper, so it was easy to get a blank check and forge the signature.  As regards my robbing the company, I’ll say that I saved them a heavy loss one day.  I discovered and put out a fire that would have destroyed the whole plant.  But Marshall never even thanked me.  He only discharged the man who was responsible for the fire.”

“How long ago were you arrested?” asked Beth.

“It’s nearly two weeks now.  But I’ll have a trial in a few days, they say.  My crime is so serious that the circuit judge has to sit on the case.”

“Do you know where Lucy is?”

“She’s at home, I suppose.  I haven’t heard from her since the day she came here to see me—­right after my arrest.”

They did not think best to enlighten him at that time.  It was better for him to think the girl unfeeling than to know the truth.

“I’m going to see Mr. Marshall,” said Kenneth, “and discover what I can do to assist you.”

“Thank you, sir.  It won’t be much, but I’m grateful to find a friend.  I’m guilty, you know, and there’s no one to blame but myself.”

They left him then, for the jailer arrived to unlock the door, and escort them to the office.