“Your servant,

  “Roy Glenister.”

As she read the note, Judge Stillman entered, and it seemed to the girl that he had aged a year for every hour in the last twelve, or else the yellow afternoon light limned the sagging hollows and haggard lines of his face most pitilessly.  He showed in voice and manner the nervous burden under which he labored.

“Alec has told me about your engagement, and it lifts a terrible load from me.  I’m mighty glad you’re going to marry him.  He’s a wonderful man, and he’s the only one who can save us.”

“What do you mean by that?  What are we in danger of?” she inquired, avoiding discussion of McNamara’s announcement.

“Why, that mob, of course.  They’ll come back.  They said so.  But Alec can handle the commanding officer at the post, and, thanks to him, we’ll have soldiers guarding the house hereafter.”

“Why—­they won’t hurt us—­”

“Tut, tut!  I know what I’m talking about.  We’re in worse danger now than ever, and if we don’t break up those Vigilantes there’ll be bloodshed—­that’s what.  They’re a menace, and they’re trying to force me off the bench so they can take the law into their own hands again.  That’s what I want to see you about.  They’re planning to kill Alec and me—­so he says—­and we’ve got to act quick to prevent murder.  Now, this young Glenister is one of them, and he knows who the rest are.  Do you think you could get him to talk?”

“I don’t think I quite understand you,” said the girl, through whitening lips.

“Oh yes, you do.  I want the names of the ring-leaders, so that I can jail them.  You can worm it out of that fellow if you try.”

Helen looked at the old man in a horror that at first was dumb.  “You ask this of me?” she demanded, hoarsely, at last.

“Nonsense,” he said, irritably.  “This isn’t any time for silly scruples.  It’s life or death for me, maybe, and for Alec, too.”  He said the last craftily, but she stormed at him: 

“It’s infamous!  You’re asking me to betray the very man who saved us not twelve hours ago.  He risked his life for us.”

“It isn’t treachery at all, it’s protection.  If we don’t get them, they’ll get us.  I wouldn’t punish that young fellow, but I want the others.  Come, now, you’ve got to do it.”

But she said “No” firmly, and quietly went to her own room, where, behind the locked door, she sat for a long time staring with unseeing eyes, her hands tight clenched in her lap.  At last she whispered: 

“I’m afraid it’s true.  I’m afraid it’s true.”