"Sure!" breathed Berlin.
Merriwell seized the child, and the woman surrendered it to him.
"I'm wicked!" she said. "Put me in prison! But I saved your child's life when Selwin Harris would have taken it!"
"Lizette, why did you do this thing?" asked Merry. "What was that man to you?"
"He was my husband," she replied. "I'm not Lizette. That's not my name. I deceived you because he commanded me to. Put me in prison! I hope they keep me there till I die!"
Carson's hand found that of Merriwell.
"Merry," he said huskily, pleadingly, "this poor girl is Bessie King. I loved her once. It's dead now, all the love I knew. She has been more weak than sinful. You have your boy safe in your arms. You'll take him back to Inza. You'll keep your promise to her. We were old comrades at college. I would have done anything for you then, and I would do anything in my power for you now. For my sake let this poor woman go—for my sake, Frank!"
There was a hush. Frank stood there in silence for such a long time that every person seemed to hear the beating of his own heart.
At last Merriwell spoke.
"For your sake I will, Berlin," he said.