"Thank you, sir."

"I don't want thanks, I want the money or securities

or whatever it is. I've got to go back to my car now,

and you'd better skip home. You needn't tell your

young master that I've been here."

I was trying hard to believe, as I stood there with

clenched hands outside the chapel porch, that Arthur

Pickering's name was written in the list of directors of

one of the greatest trust companies in America, and

that he belonged to the most exclusive clubs in New

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York. I had run out for a walk with only an inverness

over my dinner-jacket, and I was thoroughly chilled by

the cold mist. I was experiencing, too, an inner cold as

I reflected upon the greed and perfidy of man.

"Keep an eye on Morgan," said Pickering.

"Certainly, sir."

"And be careful what you write or wire."

"I'll mind those points, sir. But I'd suggest, if you

please, sir-"

"Well?" demanded Pickering impatiently.

"That you should call at the house. It would look

rather strange to the young gentleman if you'd come

here and not see him."

"I haven't the slightest errand with him. And besides,

I haven't time. If he learns that I've been here

you may say that my business was with Sister Theresa

and that I regretted very much not having an opportunity

to call on him."

The irony of this was not lost on Bates, who chuckled

softly. He came out into the open and turned away toward

the Glenarm gate. Pickering passed me, so near

that I might have put out my hand and touched him,

and in a moment I heard the carriage drive off rapidly

toward the village.

I heard Bates running home over the snow and listened

to the clatter of the village hack as it bore Pickering

back to Annandale.

Then out of the depths of the chapel porch-out of

the depths of time and space, it seemed, so dazed I stood

-some one came swiftly toward me, some one, light of

foot like a woman, ran down the walk a little way into

the fog and paused.

An exclamation broke from me.

"Eavesdropping for two!"-it was the voice of Olivia.

"I'd take pretty good care of myself if I were you,

Squire Glenarm. Good night!"

"Good-by!" I faltered, as she sped away into the mist

toward the school.




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