Her own eyes had seen him garbed as a tramp, plainly a homeless nomad.

Her ears had just listened to the story of his shame.

But after a time, in spite of what she had seen and heard, that strange instinct which dominates the feminine mind in spite of what the mere senses affirm took possession of her.

She had known from the first that Richard Dodd’s garments, his attitude, his professions, his position did not make him what her woman’s heart desired.

But, somehow, this other man, no matter what he seemed to be from outward appearance, stood forth for her from all the world.  At times, in her ponderings, she had disgustedly termed her mood regarding him pure lunacy.  Then she gave rein to the domination of her intuition; the man was not what he seemed to be!

She determined to put him out of her thoughts for ever.

Just then, however, writing out the story of his turpitude, she must needs have him in her mind.

She wondered whether he were honest in his attempts to help the poor people.

She had believed that he was when he had faced Colonel Dodd.

She determined that she would make some investigation of her own in regard to the mysterious person who had taken such possession of her thoughts since she had met him in the highway—­whose personality had so pricked her curiosity.  She comforted herself by calling her interest mere curiosity.  That was it!  If this man were what they claimed he was she might help in revealing him as an enemy of the poor folks.

And then to her came another thought.

She looked around the offices where she worked and bitter lines were etched in her forehead and about her mouth.

The place had become hateful.  She was conscious of a passionate desire to be free from the atmosphere of that central web of the Great Spider.

She bent over her work and hurried.

What was the shadow over her home?

She realized that she was not thinking clearly in the matter.  She knew that impulse was driving her.  But it was impulse which was uncontrollable.  For a long time she had understood the sinister influence which had radiated from that office in the First National block.  But it had been rather the impersonal influence of partisan politics and she had had little knowledge of the persons concerned.  But, now that the situation had been so sharply pointed by recent happenings, she understood better what had gone on in the past.

This stranger, whoever he was, seemed to be fighting for the good of the people.  She had heard him declare his principles boldly; she knew the selfishness of the men who opposed him.  She resolved to know more.

It was close upon six o’clock when she finished the transcription.

She had given much thought to her own affairs while she had been working.  And now she allowed impulse to dominate.  She resolved to leave that employment which brought her into contact with Richard Dodd and where her duties required her to prepare material for the ruin of a man who seemed to be doing an unselfish duty, no matter what they said.  She did not try to analyze that quixotic impulse; she merely obeyed.