Maxwell rose hopelessly,—"Then, if I understand you, you intend to admit"——
"Thet I done it? In course!" replied Gabriel; "but," he added, with a cunning twinkle in his eye, "justifybly—justifyble homyside, ye mind!—bein' in fear o' my life from seving men. In course," he added, hurriedly, "I can't identify them seving strangers in the dark, so thar's no harm or suspicion goin' to be done enny o' the boys in the Gulch."
Maxwell walked gravely to the window, and stood looking out without speaking. Suddenly he turned upon Gabriel with a brighter face and more earnest manner. "Where's Olly?"
Gabriel's face fell. He hesitated a moment. "I was on my way to the school in Sacramento whar she iz."
"You must send for her—I must see her at once!"
Gabriel laid his powerful hand on the lawyer's shoulder. "She izn't—that chile—to knows anythin' o' this. You hear?" he said, in a voice that began in tones of deprecation, and ended in a note of stern warning.
"How are you to keep it from her?" said Maxwell, as determinedly. "In less than twenty-four hours every newspaper in the state will have it—with their own version and comments. No; you must see her. She must hear it first from your own lips."
"But—I—can't—see—her just now," said Gabriel, with a voice that for the first time during their interview faltered in its accents.
"Nor need you," responded the lawyer, quickly. "Trust that to me. I will see her, and you shall afterwards. You need not fear I will prejudice your case. Give me the address! Quick!" he added, as the sound of footsteps and voices approaching the room, came from the hall. Gabriel did as he requested. "Now one word," he continued hurriedly, as the footsteps halted at the door.
"Yes," said Gabriel.