de th

gloves as she neared him-with the background of the broad Colonial staircase-a study for a master. She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years. He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of

attern. At her side he made his way into the depot at the side of a hundred others; at her side he took his turn in line at the ticket window; at her side he made his way towards the gates, a score of others jostling him in criticism of his more moderate pace. An old client, one of his few,

p comfortably to the illusion. She was within arm's length of him and they were steaming through the green country. That was enough for him to know at present. She looked ver

closely this man who so suddenly had become her chief reliance in this intimate detail of her life. His kindly good nature furnished her a sharp contrast to the sober seriousness of the older man with whom so much of her youth had been lived. He had thrown open the doors and windows of the gloomy house in which she ha

I say. Don't ever try to look beyond the next

t his earnestness, which was so at odds with his light

se the grass

le more, but are n't we

re worthy of

frow

he is not altogether t

than some oth

e such a chance. Surely it was not within my power to bring about this good fort

count. The handling of it i

it to ill or go

cise

re wise enough,

iding that. That

e of lack of wisdom?" s

e same," he ans

w. I don't like to f

men to be responsible for anythin

She liked the uncompromising way in which his

suburban office of a real estate development company. Here they learned that the summer schedule w

er end. That oversight is either c

nkly, apparently not

til we learn how it turns

eriously, "it will

ave a feeling, grown strong now that we are here, that

ne will excuse m

bit worried ove

l delay you further

nterrupted her. "Every day, eve

d, "is a fine w

ton of a depot wagon waiting for chance passengers. They clambered into this and were soon jogging at an easy pace over the fragrant bordered road which wandered with apparent aimlessn

hat?" demand

ook

e out in the da

say as how th' house i

that stor

ghts there at night. An' there 's b

aned forwar

Donaldson reassured

ately?" he inqui

in th' las

features had grown fixed again in t

rns as those about ever

dows are n't made by

red with sudden understand

ccessful in their quest, it would probably be necessary to straighten out Arsdale before allowing him to be seen.

nd buds until they looked as jaunty as old people going to a fair. The sun sifted through the tender sprigs to the sprouting soil beneath, making there the semblance of a choice rug of a green and gold pattern. The bungalow stood upon the top of a sm

ails, and Miss A

nt door from her purse and

he commanded, "until

go in with you.

re she had time to protest further, he closed the door behind h

pleaded, "it isn't

houted back. "I'll be

him," she cried; "

n guard," h

p and musty. At one side a big stone fireplace looked as dead as a tomb. He pushed through a door into the kitchen which led off

but the farther one alone was habitable. Here a few blankets covered the bed and in the small fireplace there were ashes. They were cold, but he detected several bits of charred paper which were dry and crisp. Some old clothes were scattered about the floor and several minor articles which he scarcely

ladder which led into an unlighted attic. He paused. He heard her

his throat, in the spasmodic clutch of the arms which clung animal-like about him he recognized the same mad, unreasoning passion with which young Arsdale had before attacked him. He could not see his face, and the man uttered no cry. The fellow's arms seemed stronger than before and even longer. But he himself was stronger also, and so while the madman from behind clasped his hands below Donaldson's throat, the latter managed to

t and knees; he dug his head into the fellow's chest. The latter clung without cry or word like a living nightmare. His hand was creeping towards Donaldson's throat again

upper windows. They were darkened with shades. She felt a keen sense of responsibility for not having told him, from the start, of what a demon Arsdale became when cornered in this condition. She had half concealed the fact because of shame and because-she shu

o the second floor. She glanced into each room. In the farther one an article on the floor, which had escaped Donaldson's notice, riveted her eyes. It was an empty pocket-book. It was neither her own nor Arsdale's. Instead of finding relief i

n and there found herself confronting D

ing against