She closed the fan sharply and lifted her eyes to mine.

"But there isn't any fortune! It's all a myth, a joke,"

I declared.

"Mr. Pickering doesn't seem to think so. He had

every reason for believing that Mr. Glenarm was a very

rich man. The property can't be found in the usual

places,-banks, safety vaults, and the like. Then where

do you think it is,-or better, where do you think

Mr. Pickering thinks it is?"

"But assuming that it's buried up there by the lake

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like a pirate's treasure, it isn't Pickering's if he finds

it. There are laws to protect even the dead from robbery!"

I concluded hotly.

"How difficult you are! Suppose you should fall

from a boat, or be shot-accidentally-then I might

have to take the fortune after all; and Mr. Pickering

might think of an easier way of getting it than by-"

"Stealing it! Yes, but you wouldn't-!"

Half-past twelve struck on the stairway and I started

to my feet.

"You wouldn't-" I repeated.

"I might, you know!"

"I must go,-but not with that, not with any hint of

that,-please!"

"If you let him defeat you, if you fail to spend your

year there,-we'll overlook this one lapse,"-she looked

me steadily in the eyes, wholly guiltless of coquetry but

infinitely kind,-"then,-"

She paused, opened the fan, held it up to the light

and studied the golden butterflies.

"Yes-"

"Then-let me see-oh, I shall never chase another

rabbit as long as I live! Now go-quickly-quickly!"

"But you haven't told me when and where it was we

met the first time. Please!"

She laughed, but urged me away with her eyes.

"I shan't do it! It isn't proper for me to remember,

if your memory is so poor. I wonder how it would seem

for us to meet just once-and be introduced! Good

night! You really came. You are a gentleman of your

word, Squire Glenarm!"

She gave me the tips of her fingers without looking

at me.

A servant came in hurriedly.

"Miss Devereux, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Pickering

are in the drawing-room."

"Yes; very well; I will come at once."

Then to me: "They must not see you-there, that way!" and she

stood in the door, facing me, her hands lightly touching

the frame as though to secure my way.

I turned for a last look and saw her waiting-her

eyes bent gravely upon me, her arms still half-raised,

barring the door; then she turned swiftly away into the

hall.

Outside I found my hat and coat, and wakened my

sleeping driver. He drove like mad into the city, and

I swung upon the north-bound sleeper just as it was

drawing out of the station.




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