righten off Daly and then
find Lawrence, and I'm going to try."

"It doesn't matter much about Daly now. But if you can find Lawrence,
you will clear yourself."

Alice turned to her father with an angry sparkle in her eyes. "That's
a very grudging concession for us to make. We will not blame Mr.
Foster when he has proved that it's impossible for him to be guilty!"

The tension was too great for any of them to be much surprised by her
outbreak and Featherstone said dully, "It's logical."

"Logical!" Alice exclaimed in a scornful tone. "Do you expect Mr.
Foster to be satisfied with that, after what he has borne and the risks
he has run for us? Now, when things look bad for him, is the time for
you to show your trust and knowledge of character."

"You imply that your judgment is better than mine?" Featherstone
rejoined, but without heat.

"I know an honest man," Alice said quietly, with some color in her face.

There was silence for a few moments and by an effort of self-control
Foster kept his face unmoved. He did not mean to let the others see
the exultant satisfaction the girl's statement had given him.
Featherstone brooded with knitted brows and a troubled look. Then he
said:

"You will understand, Mr. Foster, that this has been a painful
interview to my wife and me. You were our guest and my son's friend;
but I do not know what has happened and we have no news of him. If you
can bring him back, I will ask your forgiveness for all that I have
said."

"I will do my best and get to work to-morrow," Foster answered. Then
he bowed to Mrs. Featherstone and Alice, and the girl gave him a look
that made his heart beat as he went out of the room.

Shortly afterwards he entered the hall, wearing his damp walking
clothes, and met Mrs. Featherstone, who protested against his leaving
them at night. Foster answered that he had no time to lose and
beckoning Pete, who was waiting, went out. Alice had not come down to
bid him good-by, but after all he had not expected this; the meeting
would not have been free from embarrassment. He had much to say to
her, but must wait until he had kept his promise.

He did not blame Featherstone and rather sympathized with him, but
could not stay at the Garth or come back there until he had cleared up
the mystery about his comrade's silence. Pete did not grumble much
when they went down the drive, but said he had no friends in the
neighborhood and it was a long way to the