Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

Holmes returns from his talk with Margret to find Lois and her father, Joe, keeping watch at the mill tonight. Always glad to see the affable Lois, Holmes engages in conversation with her, but essentially ignores Joe, whom he cannot abide for his crime. Lois offers some of the food that she has prepared, but Holmes excuses himself to go to his room upstairs.

Joe follows Holmes out into the passageway and implores him not to reveal his past crime of forgery to anyone, so that he may rebuild his life and stay with Lois. Holmes cannot promise that, because Joe has committed a crime which cannot be ignored. He tells Joe that he will deal with him tomorrow.

Joe returns to where Lois is keeping watch over the furnace and encourages her to go home, knowing that she is desperately...