s man of
the light of his home, of the pride and joy of his life, to destine him
to loneliness thenceforward until his death. Something of this he put
into words, with a rare and tactful sympathy.

"Ah, yes," was the answer. "I might have been thinking something of the
kind; in fact, I've often thought of it. The thing was bound to come
some day, of course; but I've always told myself there was plenty of
time, and at the girl's age two or three or four years would make no
great difference. But there--it doesn't do to be selfish."

Denham, recognising the shake in the voice of this strong man, put forth
his hand, which the other gripped, and for a few moments there was
silence.

"I've never seen any one I would so willingly entrust my Verna to as
yourself, Denham," said Ben Halse presently; "so there's compensation in
that."

"You flatter me too much, Halse. But you won't mind my saying you are
about the most imprudent parent-in-law elect I ever heard or read of."

He laughed as he said this. He was glad to throw off the serious vein.

"Why?"

"Because you are taking me so absolutely on trust. You know nothing
about me. I may be a fraud financially. I may be an intending
bigamist; in fact, anything. Now I tell you what. Before you give me
Verna entirely you are to write to my solicitors--the two senior
partners of the firm have known me ever since I was born. Write to them
privately and separately, and make any and every inquiry that may occur
to you."

The trader thought a minute, then he said--

"Well, that's fair and square and above-board, Denham. I'm pretty good
at reading men, and I think I've read you accurately. But as you
yourself have thrown out the suggestion, you won't be offended if I
follow it?"

He looked the other full in the face as though with a searching glance.
But no trace of hesitation did he read there.

"Why, most emphatically not," came the ready answer. "I'm a man of the
world, Halse, and if I were in your place I should certainly exact a
similar guarantee. You will get answers in a couple of months at the
outside, I'll take care of that. Meanwhile, you will sanction our
engagement provisionally, subject to those answers being satisfactory to
yourself?"

"Yes."

And again the two men clasped hands.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then followed a couple of weeks of what was simply a halcyon time. The
sympathy that h