Luella had the courage and tact to face him and get
him out of the house, and I telegraphed for Mr. Knapp."
"I remember the occasion, though I didn't know what was going on."
"Well, Mr. Knapp was very angry, and had a long talk with Lane. He told
me that the creature cried and pleaded for forgiveness, and promised
amendment for the future. And Mr. Knapp believed him. Yet that very
night you were assailed with Luella in Chinatown."
The truth flashed on me. The groans and cries behind the locked door in
Doddridge Knapp's office, the voices which were like to one man
pleading and arguing with himself, were all explained.
"I think the assault was something of an accident," she continued; "or,
rather, it was more the doing of Terrill than of Lane."
"What was the cause of Terrill's enmity?" I asked. "He seemed to take a
hearty personal interest in the case for a hired man."
"For one thing, a family interest. I think he is a son of Lane's early
years. For another, he had a violent personal quarrel with Henry over
some matter, and you have had the benefit of the enmity. But I don't
think you'll hear of him again--or Meeker either. They will be in too
much of a hurry to leave the state."
I thought of Terrill lying bruised and sore at Livermore, and felt no
fear of him.
"You took great chances in sending me to Livermore," I said. "It might
have gone hard with Mr. Knapp's plans if I had not got back."
"I thought of that. But if the boy had been where I supposed all would
have been well.
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