say the least, it
would be the height of bad taste to do so, nevertheless he felt that
she was in some difficulty and needed advice. The squalid little shop
was an odd place in which to find the niece of old Thomas Prescott; for
it was not likely that she had come there as he had, to browse around
in a dilettante search for curios.

Nancy read the question, "What are you here for?" in his face, and
guessed his indecision. On her part she wished fervently that he would
go, and was racking her brains for some excuse to leave the shop and to
come back later. But her frantic efforts at evolving some plan of
escape within the space of fifteen seconds were fruitless. Zeigler for
the third time repeated his question to her with a touch of impatience.
Then Mr. Arnold desperately took the bull by the horns, and with a
touch of pretended gaiety asked with a laugh:

"Are you in search of adventure? You aren't running away from school,
are you?"

"No--that is----" stammered Nancy; then, driven to take him into her
confidence to some extent, and trying to put her situation in the light
of a prank, she laughed mischievously, and added with an air of candor,
"You've caught me."

"What are you up to, young lady? Selling the family plate?" inquired
Mr. Arnold boldly, and speaking to her as if she were a mischievous
youngster, though his eyes were grave and puzzled. Nancy put up her
chin, as if she were being scolded, and answered with a touch of
childish defiance: "Don't tell on me."

"Well, I won't--though you deserve it, ma'am," replied Mr. Arnold. "I
won't--on one condition,--that you come with me, and 'fess up to all
your misdemeanors, and let me give you the sage advice of a hardened
sinner before you do anything rash. I realize that I'm taking a
liberty, Miss Prescott, in concerning myself in what is strictly your
own affair," he added seriously, "but isn't our friendship firmly
enough established to allow me that privilege? What time is it?" He
glanced at his watch. "Ten minutes past two, and I've had no luncheon.
Have you?" Nancy admitted that she hadn't.

"Good. I can't begin to tell you how awfully lucky I consider myself
in having met you, Miss Prescott. I wish you would come with me to
some nice little restaurant where we can decide the affairs of the
nations. Are you in a great hurry?"

Nancy said that she wasn't. To tell the truth she was very glad that
Mr. Arnold _had_ concerned himself in her a