im yet, and had something else to think about. Lucy
suspected Walters, though Lawrence did not, and Foster imagined that
she had some ground for doing so. She had an object for making
Lawrence tell his story with full particulars, because it must have
been painful to recall the matter.

"We'll say no more about it now, Miss Stephen," he remarked. "Lawrence
and I are old friends, and I'm heavily in your debt."

Lucy looked up with a smile and blush, and Foster understood what she
meant when she answered: "I hope you will always be his friend."

XXV

FOSTER SETS OFF AGAIN

After dinner the party returned to the veranda, which was warm and well
lighted. Mrs. Stephen resumed her sewing, Lawrence settled himself
comfortably in his big chair, and Foster engaged Lucy in careless talk.
She had a pleasant voice and pretty, animated gestures, and after the
strain he had borne there was a charm in relaxing and lazily enjoying
the society of an attractive girl. The trouble was that he could not
be careless long. Lawrence was inclined to put off disagreeable
things, and would no doubt sooner leave disturbing subjects alone; but
Foster had only kept half his promise to Alice and time that might be
valuable was being lost.

"Your adventure made an interesting story, Lawrence, but you took
unusual trouble to make us understand all that happened," he said at
length.

Lawrence's gesture hinted at humorous resignation. "You're a restless
fellow, Jake, but I hoped you'd wait until to-morrow. You see, I've
been warned to keep quiet."

Foster looked at Lucy and imagined that he had her support; she no
doubt knew his comrade's weakness for procrastination.

"I'll try not to disturb you much," he replied.

"Then you and Lucy insisted on my relating the thing at length. I felt
I had to indulge you."

Lucy's smile hinted that Foster must be firm. "That wasn't quite
enough. You had another motive."

"Oh, well," said Lawrence, "I suppose I wanted to recall the thing and
see how it looked in the light of what you told me about your exploits
in Scotland."

"They make it look different, don't they?" Lucy remarked.

Lawrence gave her a good-humored smile and then turned to Foster.
"Lucy's cleverer than I, but I really thought she was rather hard on
Walters." He paused for a moment, and then resumed thoughtfully: "You
must remember that my object was to keep out of Daly's way, and I
thought I was safe as long as I c