"He was fairly prosperous before that，for Mrs.Rogers was an energetic and sensible woman，and kept old Will hard at work.One morning she tried to light the ？re with kerosene，and lost her sight.Then Rogers wouldn't do anything but lead her around，and wait uponb her，and the place went to rack and ruinc.""I understand now，"said Beth.
"Lucy could have looked after her mother，"said youngBates，"but old Will was stubborn and wouldn't let her.So the girl saw something must be done and went to work.That's how all the trouble came about."He spoke simply，but paced up and down the narrow cellin front of them.It was evident that his feelings were deeper than he cared to make evident.
"Whose name did you sign to the check？"asked Kenneth.
"That of John E.Marshall，the manager of the mill.He is supposed to sign all the checks of the concern.It's a stock company，and rich.I was bookkeeper，so it was easy to get a blank check and forge the signature.As regards my robbing the company，I'll say that I saved them a heavy loss one day.I discovered and put out a ？re that would have destroyed the whole plant.But Marshall never even thanked me.He only discharged the man who was responsible for the ？re.""How long ago were you arrested？"asked Beth.
"It's nearly two weeks now.But I'll have a trial in a few days，they say.My crime is so serious that the circuit judge has to sit ona the case.""Do you know where Lucy is？""She's at home，I suppose.I haven't heard from her since the day she came here to see me—right after my arrest."They did not think best to enlighten him at that time.It was better for him to think the girl unfeelingb than to know the truth.
"I'm going to see Mr.Marshall，"said Kenneth，"and discover what I can do to assist you.""Thank you，sir.It won't be much，but I'm grateful tofind a friend.I'm guilty，you know，and there's no one to blame but myself."They left him then，for the jailer arrived to unlock thedoor，and escort them to the of？ce.
"Tom's a very decent lad，"remarked the jailer，on the way."He ain't a natural criminal，you know；just one o'them that gives in to temptation and is foolish enough to get caught.I've seen lots of that kind in my day.You don't smoke，do you，Mr.Forbes？""No，Mr.Markham.""Then don't begin it；or，if you do，never try to quit.It's—it's awful，it is.And it ruins a man's disposition."The mill was at the outskirts of the town.It was a busy place，perhaps the busiest in the whole of the Eighth District，and in it were employed a large number of men.The of？ce was a small brick edificea，separated from the main buildings，in which the noise of machinery was so great that one speaking could scarcely be heard.The manager was in，Kenneth and Beth learned，but could not see them until he had signed the letters he had dictated for the noon mail.
So they sat on a bench until a summons came to admit them to Mr.Marshall's private of？ce.
He looked up rather ungraciously，but motioned them to be seated.
