肯尼思和贝丝从沃尔森律师那里知道伪造支票是重罪。他们遂去探望了为了露西而锒铛入狱的汤姆。汤姆对自己的所作所为并不感到后悔，他只希望露西能够幸福。贝丝和肯尼思决定去找诉讼人，想办法让其撤诉。他们会成功吗？
Kenneth and Beth refrained from telling the other girls or Uncle John of old Will Rogers's visit，but they got Mr.Watson in the library and questioned him closely about the penalty for forging a check.
It was a serious crime indeed，Mr.Watson told them，andTom Gates bade fair to serve a lengthy term in state's prison as a consequence of his rasha act.
"But it was a generous act，too，"said Beth.
"I can't see it in that light，"said the old lawyer."It was a deliberate theft from his employers to protect a girl he loved.I do not doubt the girl was unjustly accused.The Squierses are a sel？sh，hard—？sted lot，and the old lady，especially，is a well known viragob.But they could not have proven a case against Lucy，if she was innocent，and all their threats of arresting her were probably mere bluff.So this boy was doubly foolish in ruining himself to get sixty dollars to pay an unjust demand.""He was soft—hearted and impetuousc，"said Beth；"and，being in love，he didn't stop to count the costd.""That is no excuse，my dear，"declared Mr.Watson."Indeed there is never an excuse for crime.The young man is guilty，and he must suffer the penalty.""Is there no way to save him？"asked Kenneth.
"If the prosecutione were withdrawn and the case settledwitha the victim of the forged check，then the young man would be allowed his freedom.But under the circumstances I doubt if such an arrangement could be made.""We're going to try it，anyhow，"was the prompt decision.
So as soon as breakfast was over the next morning Beth and Kenneth took one of the automobiles，the boy consenting unwillingly to this sort of locomotion because it would save much time.Fairview was twelve miles away，but by ten o'clock they drew up at the county jail.
They were received in the little office by a man named Markham，who was the jailer.He was a round—faced，respectable appearing fellow，but his mood was distinctly unsociable.
"Want to see Tom Gates，eh？Well！what for？"he demanded.
"We wish to talk with him，"answered Kenneth."Talk！what's the good？You're no friend of Tom Gates.Ican't be bothered this way，anyhow.""I am Kenneth Forbes，of Elmhurst.I'm running for Re—presentative on the Republican ticket，"said Kenneth，quietly."Oh，say！that's different，"observed Markham，altering his demeanor."You mustn't mind my being gruff and grumpyb，Mr.Forbes.I've just stopped smoking a few daysago，and it's got on my nerves something awful！""May we see Gates at once？"asked Kenneth.
"Sure—ly！I'll take you to his cell，myself.It's justshocking how such a little thing as stoppin'smoking will rile up a fellow.Come this way，please."They followed the jailer along a succession of passages."Smoked ever sence I was a boy，you know，an'had to stoplast week because Doc said it would kill me if I didn't，"remarked the jailer，leading the way."Sometimes I'm that yearning for a smoke I'm nearly crazy，an'I dunno which is worst，dyin'one way or another.This is Gates'cell—the best in the shop."He unlocked the door，and called："Here's visitors，Tom.""Thank you，Mr.Markham，"replied a quiet voice，as a young man came forward from the dim interior of the cell."How are you feeling，today？""Worse，Tom；worse 'n ever，"replied the jailer，gloomily.
"Well，stick it out，old man；don't give in.""I won't，Tom.Smokin''ll kill me sure，an'there's a faint hope o'livin'through this struggle to give it up.This visitor is Mr.Forbes of Elmhurst，an'the young lady is—""Miss DeGraf，"said Kenneth，noticing the boy's facecritically，as he stood where the light from the passage fell upon it."Will you leave us alone，please，Mr.Markham？""Sure—ly，Mr.Forbes.You've got twenty minutes according to regulations.I'll come and get you then.Sorry we haven't any reception room in the jail.All visits have to be made in the cells."Then he deliberately locked Kenneth and Beth in with theforger，and retreated along the passage.
"Sit down，please，"said Gates，in a cheerful and pleasant voice."There's a bench here.""We've come to inquire about your case，Gates，"saidKenneth."It seems you have forged a check.""Yes，sir，I plead guilty，although I've been told I ought not to confess.But the fact is that I forged the check and got the money，and I'm willing to stand the consequences.""Why did you do it？"asked Beth.
He was silent and turned his face away.
A fresh，wholesomea looking boy，was Tom Gates，with steady gray eyes，an intelligent forehead，but a sensitive，rather weak mouth.He was of sturdyb，athletic build and dressed neatly in a suit that was of coarse material but well brushed and cared for.
Beth thought his appearance pleasing and manly.Kenneth decided that he was ill at ease and in a state of dogged self—repression."We have heard something of your story，"said Kenneth，"and are interested in it.But there is no doubt you have acted very foolishly.""Do you know Lucy，sir？"asked the young man.
"No."
"Lucy is very proud.The thing was killing her，and I couldn't bear it.I didn't stop to think whether it was foolish or not.I did it；and I'm glad I did.""You have made her still more unhappy，"said Beth，gently.
"Yes；she'll worry about me，I know.I'm disgraced forlife；but I've saved Lucy from any disgrace，and she's young.She'll forget me before I've served my term，and—and take up witha some other young fellow.""Would you like that？"asked Beth.
"No，indeed，"he replied，frankly."But it will be best that way.I had to stand by Lucy—she's so sweet and gentle，and so sensitive.I don't say I did right.I only say I'd do the same thing again.""Couldn't her parents have helped her？"inquired Kenneth.
"No.Old Will is a ？ne fellow，but poor and helpless since Mrs.Rogers had her accident.""Oh，did she have an accident？"asked Beth.
"Yes.Didn't you know？She's blind."
"Her husband didn't tell us that，"said the girl.